“What? Little beasty is afraid of fire?” She tosses the flame to her other palm and I laugh. Like everything, Fee is a natural. Of course, she’s never had any training and she seems to instinctually know what to do. “I’ll admit, this is fun.”
“Right?”
Turning back to Reid, the beast snarls, hunkering low. He howls, a sound full of retribution, and Reid snorts. My brother.Snorts.
What madness is happening right now? I taught him better.
“You’re going to have to do more than that, beasty,” Reid says, smiling. Those red fingers move again, teasing him. “Want a snack?”
My fangs snap, barely missing his fingers.
Reid laughs.This fucking Fae-child.
“Think they’re ready?” Fee asks, the flame growing in her palms. They cast dark orange circles on her face, igniting her eyes. She looks so much like our mother, it’s painful.
“They have to be. The moon is nearly full.”
The beast tries again, and Reid jumps back. What are they going on about?
“Want some?” He winks. “Better catch me.”
My horrible little brother darts away, and Fee throws her fire at the beast’s feet. He scrambles away, as the flames burn the barest hint of my vulnerable skin.
Looking up, both of my siblings have scurried away. The beast claws at the dirt and takes off, pushing to follow the blood trail.
My siblings laugh—laugh. Like school-aged Fae, playing a game, they giggle and jump over fallen logs, and over flowering bushes. Along the barrier we go, never letting me gain traction on them.
They’re insane.My absence has finally broken them. There’s no logical reason why they would play with a cursed Fae in the middle of the woods. One who will surely devour their hearts if given the chance.
And where is Max?
My heat pounds in my chest as the beast dodges between oaks and evergreens. I’ve kept close the illusion of seeing Max again—not in this form, but as the male she loves. I’ve kept the dream of one day enjoying our future together, her with child, me doting on her, in my soul, only to be taken out at night to be studied and fawn over. A dream that keeps me going, though it would be easier to give in—let the beast have me, be lost to the recesses of my mind as he ravages the land.
I won’t. Because I believe in my mate. She will figure out a way to break the curse.
By the way my siblings are acting, maybe that faith is misplaced.Did they all crack?
Reid stops further ahead, right over the deep groove that seems to cut the blackened path. He helps Fee over it, which is odd, because that it’s Fee, and waits there. Standing still, the beast stalks close.
My breath tussles the brown locks on his skull and he winces, as I growl. Fangs barred, I’m a sight to behold. Grotesques, burly, I am the nightmare everyone dreads.
“Be gentle, big brother,” Reid murmurs, looking at me with one eye. “Not the face.”
I don’t have time to ponder as the beast grabs him around the throat. Surging forward, I try to take control, and it works for amoment—my brother drops from my grip and he grabs the tattered tunic over my body.
Together we fall forward and a dazzling energy runs over my limbs. Not quite electric; it pulses and the beast howls, deep and loud, as if in pain.
Does it hurt him and I’m not aware?
Reid crawls away on his back, clouds of dust rising. The beast spins, throwing my hands into the air. It hits a barrier, invisible to the eyes.
We’re stuck, behind this wall, forced wherever here is.
Clever fucking woman.She did this, somehow. Then anticipation rises in my chest, tangling with my love for her.She’s figured it out.She must have and this is one step.
She’s going to break the curse.
At the top of the mountain, a path leads deep into the rocky ledges, and I see my siblings running up the incline. The beast follows, furious.
