Page 160 of Wrath of the Fae

‘You’ll be okay, sweetheart. Mummy’s right here. Close your eyes and hug me tight. I love you so much. So very much.’

I hear her pleading to spare her son. That he’s only five! She begs, and she begs, gripping the boy to her chest so hard he struggles to breathe.

Further and further back, we’re pushed.

I smell her perfume as I snuggle into her neck. I feel her tears on my skin.

I feel his fear as I live it all through his eyes.

Terror. Such undiluted terror.

I lift my gaze and see the people fall, grabbing others in the slight hope they can save them.

Everyone falls.

We fall.

She wraps her arms around me and tells me one final time that she loves me.

Her body thuds as we land. She takes the brunt of the fall, landing on countless other bodies below. I hear her spine snap and lift my head, seeing her groaning as blood spills from her nose.

‘R-run,’ she manages, unable to move. ‘Hide.’

He clambers over the hill of bodies, watching the Dark Fae scream and slash at everyone they can. They play, tearing at limbs and twisting bodies like they’re dolls. The boy digs down, hoping to bury himself under the corpses.

But the hand of a monster wraps around his middle and squeezes.

There’s a snap. We’re thrown and dropped onto the pile. Another man lands on top of him, releasing his final breath on his face.

I’m back on the beach as one of the guys pulls me from the sand.

I slam my hands over my mouth to stifle my screams.

I can’t get them to stop! I just scream and scream.

They hold me close, attempting to comfort and silence me.

‘He’s massacred them!’ I cry hysterically. ‘Every human that tried to stand against him. Every human who…’ I feel that little boy’s pain as he died slowly, listening to the sound of those around him weakly crying out for help they all knew wouldn’t come.

Cyrus scoops me up and takes flight, leaving this scene of pure evil behind.

Shock. I think I’m in shock. I just cling to Cyrus, my face buried in his neck as he carries me in his arms like a damn baby. They’ve been walking through the woods for a while. None of us have said a word about what we saw on that beach. I don’t think we will ever be able to speak of it again.

Ivan has taken complete control by killing any who stands against him.

England is lost. Completely.

All that remains are Dark Fae, human half breeds, or the dead.

And if he gets this machine going, the rest of this world and ours will follow.

Then, through the rain and wind, I hear a whisper.

‘What is it?’ Reid asks, no doubt feeling my reaction through the Bond.

‘I can hear something.’ I stretch out my hand. ‘I feel it too. That way.’

‘Feel as in-’

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