Page 86 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

Herman yowled and hissed, but I couldn’t place the direction.

“Unhand her.” I recognized Soren’s voice somewhere behind my assailant.

Suddenly, I was falling. Landing on my feet came naturally as a cat, but I didn’t wish to remain a cat. I’d be trampled.

Transforming in an instant, I sprang up to my full height, knocking aside the hand that had grasped my scruff moments before and turning to face my assailant. My hand found the handle of the knife Azulin had given me that morning, and without hesitation, I pulled it free and stabbed the man who had been holding me.

At the same moment, the courtyard exploded with a blanket of power. My skin prickled and the warm sensation beneath my breastbone expanded. Instinctively, I fed my magic into whatever spell Azulin was using. Herman appeared at my feet.

Distracted, I didn’t see the Unseelie king’s retaliation until his fist connected with my cheek. I fell, landing hard on my backside in the muddied pavers of the courtyard.

“Meddling human.” He sneered down at me.

Herman yowled and slashed razor-sharp claws across the Unseelie king’s shins. The fae yelled and attempted to kick the sithcat. Herman disappeared and reappeared at my side, snarling up at the fae, fur sticking out and back arched in challenge.

“What did you call her?” Ghost rumbled as his massive white head rose above the king and glared down at the fae. Smoke curled from his nose. “It better have been respectful. Becauseeveryone knows how I feel about those who disrespect my brother or his mate.”

“I can fight my own battles, Ghost.” Azulin’s icy tone sent a shiver down my spine. “Herman, stay.”

My husband stood behind me, every muscle tensed and every line radiating power. The air practically zinged with the charged sensation of the magic he held at the ready. I half expected lightning to strike.

“Come to my side, wife, and let me deal with this piece of filth.” Azulin rotated a fist, and golden sparks spat across the pavers and exploded from a few flagpoles.

The Unseelie king flinched.

“Might we have a turn first, sire?” The castle cook and half his assistants stood to the side with a smattering of the household staff, various makeshift weapons in their grasps. “I suspect there won’t be much left after you, Herman, and Master Ghost finish with him.”

Someone beside me cleared his throat loudly. I twisted around to find the large, intimidating Unseelie fae dressed in all black standing over me. Personally, I found Greyson more intimidating than the Unseelie king. He radiated power in a way that the king didn’t.

“As a friend, might I request that you spare his life. For my sake?” Greyson cleared his throat again. “I would rather not have to take up a regency role until his heir is trained.”

“Noted.” Azulin’s gaze never strayed from the other king. “I claim the right of retaliation. You stole from me years of my life, my peace, my freedom, and attempted to take my wife and my kingdom as well.”

The Unseelie king flinched.

“The world shall know of your failure. Although I will not curse you as you did me—a fate I would not wish on anyone—I can contain your poison. First, as of noon tomorrow, everyUnseelie is banned from crossing the borders of Seelie lands. Where they are after that deadline, they shall remain until your death, or until your heir takes the throne.”

Azulin took a step toward the other king. “Second, you touch my wife again in any way—magical, physical, or even by extension of sending an assassin after her, sending her threatening letters, or even so much as sneezing in her direction—and I will kill you.”

The Unseelie king sneered. “I can harm her without doing any of those things.”

Greyson groaned and rolled his eyes.

Azulin didn’t pause. Sparks licked the stones at the Unseelie king’s feet. “If you even speak so much as a grumble about my wife, I will hunt you down.” He didn’t have to say what he would do when he found the other king.

Ghost dropped his head low, nudging the gathered fae aside to get closer to the Unseelie king. “Don’t bother. I will get him first, and I won’t be merciful.” He blew a cloud of smoke out of his nostrils and the cloud enveloped the Unseelie king, causing the fae to cough violently.

The Unseelie king flailed his arms about in an attempt to wave away the smoke. “Understood,” he gasped. “Fetch the horses.” He waved in Greyson’s direction.

“Fetch the horses yourself,” Greyson responded. In a wave of extremely powerful magic that brushed across my face like a bird’s wings, great wings covered in glossy black feathers sprouted from Greyson’s back. “I’m flying home. I refuse to risk being trapped on the wrong side of the border, away from my wife. Besides, I have your heir to find. Always an honor, King Az.”

“Lord Greyson,” Azulin acknowledged him with a nod.

Then with a great swoop of his wings and a burst of magic, Greyson took flight.

The Unseelie king started swearing, demanding his fae attend him. No one came forward, and I spotted some fae backing into the crowd.

“Enough!” Ghost rumbled. Taking to the skies, the dragon circled the roof once before swooping down and plucking the unwanted invader from the middle of the crowd. Before anyone could do anything, the dragon flew away, the Unseelie king dangling from Ghost’s talons andscreaming in terror.

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