Page 97 of Wrath of the Fae

‘I can’t leave,’ she says sadly, her hand resting over where that vow lies etched into her skin.

Lucca and I share a look, and he asks me in my mind what she’s talking about. So I tell him as much as I can as quickly as I can.

‘You were in the orchard?’ Rhea asks me, interrupting our silent conversation. ‘Why?’

‘A portal,’ I reply. ‘Ancient. Forgotten. It’s how we got here.’

‘Huh…’ she says, her mind wandering. ‘I kept thinking you were out there.’

‘What?’

‘I don’t know. I just felt you. I kept going there, hoping to see you standing amongst those trees one day. The strangest feeling…’ Her voice fades, and she stares into nothing.

She’s so broken. So defeated. Resigned to her fate. To death.

But that’s not going to happen.

‘Lucca.’ I face him and take his hand in mine.

‘No,’ he says firmly, shaking his head because he already knows what I’m about to say. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘Take her back. I’m staying.’

‘Nope. No way.’

‘Tell Wolf what we know. Get the army ready and lead them through the tunnels.’

‘Army?’ Rhea asks, her focus sharply returning. ‘What army?’

‘Lucca will explain everything once you’re out of here.’ I raise my brow at him. ‘Won’t you, Lucca?’

‘I need you to make that portal thing work,’ he argues.

‘I’ll give you my blood in a cup or something. Keep it and use it to come back with Wolf. I’ll find the others and figure it out.’

‘I’m not leaving you here,’ he says, stepping closer. ‘You’ve been through enough, and besides… Wolf will kill me if I return without you.’

‘Skin you alive and wear you as a coat,’ I correct him. ‘He said nothing about killing you.’

‘Besides, if the others are marked like her, they won’t be able to leave willingly. Never mind the fact that to get everyone ready, it will take days. I’m not leaving you here for days!’

‘I’ve survived longer with worse.’

‘Your attempts at comforting me are a pile of horse shit.’ His hands grab my head on either side as he looks into my eyes. ‘I wish I could say no to you.’

‘You can’t. I’m your queen, remember?’

As I smile, he sighs.

‘You’re my Pup. My lovely little Pup.’ He rests his forehead on mine. ‘If you die, I will kill you.’

‘Noted.’

‘If you’re going to make them believe you’re Rhea, remember. You’re a secret lesbian in love with your husband’s best friend’s wife. You can eat with your mouth closed and haven’t taken two cocks simultaneously.’

‘Again, noted. Now fuck off.’

He gives me a kiss atop my head and faces Rhea. But she’s glaring at me.

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