Simply point me in the direction of blood.ThatI could handle with a contented smile.
With that cruel smirk on my lips, I slipped inside the back barn door, maneuvering through the wide range of animals housed inside its rank depths. The loose chickens were the real bother, clucking and scampering under my boots, trying to send me reeling as I slunk to my stolen goods. I cursed quietly and sidestepped the feathery beasts, gliding to the left under a feed overhang in the shadows.
Bending down, I scoured through the vast pouches of feed until I found the large bag at the bottom I needed. I yanked it free and moved into a shaft of light, keeping a firm grip on the bag so it remained unseen.
I wordlessly squatted and picked through the belongings, pocketing one particular item that caught my eye—that a certain elf might like—while I searched for the coin bag I actually needed. One of the elf king’s guests had been tactless and lazy and had merely given coin. It was an ignorant present for a king but one that would come in handy should my stay become even more extended.
Stuffing the coin bag in my breeches’ pocket, I tied the stolen bag back up and hid it away once more for future use, starting my tiptoe through the stables all over again. It was much busier as I left, with servants rushing in and out for their mid-morning duties. The pigs I normally slept with here were loud and rambunctious as they were herded to their pen for feeding, kicking up dirt and shit into the air in their irritated frenzy.
I sighed and quickly twirled away from an elf charging right into my path, the servant swatting at an oinker’s ass to get the plump creature moving more quickly. But a flash of black fur in the corner of my eye grabbed my attention, freezing me in place and whipping my head in that direction.
I stood perfectly still in a storm of crazed pigs and shouting elves, the chaos surrounding me and jarring my keen senses, while I stared at a sight that chilled me to my bones, unable to move.
A Fae stood alone on King Traevon’s castle grounds, in clear view of everyone—as if it had nothing to fear. It was spying from a first floor window at the back of the castle, its attention homed in on what it was watching.
And perhaps it wasn’t scared to be seen.
For it was aterrifyingmonster.
Three heads, like snarling, twisted dogs, sat upon his canine shoulders, all focused on his prey hidden inside. Deadly fangs gleamed in the sunlight, drool dripping onto the grass-covered ground as if the Fae were too damned hot. It was salivating for a tasty treat, its massive, furry chest pumping heavily with adrenaline while its four paws dug claws down into the dirt, preparing to pounce forward into the room it was snooping on and tear someone asunder.
I sucked in a harsh breath…and reacted.
Grabbing the closest pig, I ceased using my power. I sent the oinker soaring across the castle grounds right at the Fae, preparing to attack—and I didn’t relent even when elves started screaming in fear as I appeared and their livestock went airborne.
Panic of an elf:
When pigs start flying…
You know you have a problem.
“Father,” I snarled and flashed my fangs, spitting fucking mad at this point. “Quit trying to pretty up the bullshit spewing out of your mouth. I’m not going to kill my damned soul mate!”
Marlon’s upper lip curled, showing his own pearly-white fangs. “There are ways to help with a soul mate’s death—”
“I won’t do it!” I bellowed, cutting him off and throwing my hands into the air. “I understand your worry. Ruiuen told you to keep us apart. Shit didn’t go as planned.But I’m not murdering him.”
My father’s forehead wrinkled fiercely. “Would you rather I handle it?”
“No!”Fae fucking help me.“I don’t want you to do a damned thing.”
His sigh was heavy and hard, and he snarled heatedly, “If that bloodthirsty shifter’s dead, then the Fae may be more lenient in your punishment. Do you understand that, son?” His furious—and worried—violet eyes looked severely into mine. “I don’t want you hurt because you got…stuck…with the worst and most illegal soul mate you could have!”
My lips thinned horribly at his wording.
I knew it was true…
But his argument made my fingers itch for my blades, not appreciating the rudeness and crassness thrown at me and my soul mate.
Fancy that.
There was the uglypossessiveness.
For my enemy.
I cleared my throat and turned away from my father, rubbing the back of my neck from the absurdity of the situation, never expecting this shit to come down on my head.
“Oh,” Marlon said quietly behind me.
