Page 2 of The Forbidden Fae King

The poor thing never stood a chance.

Not against an enemy that can kill it from a distance. A deep sadness rolls through me at the thought. I am a terrible executioner.

The sound of another beast crashing through the woods has me swinging in my saddle.

Three arrows glide through the air in fast succession, also fueled by magic, piercing the creature in a neat row. The sheer impact has its huge form jerking violently. It skids through the leaf litter and mud with velocity, leaving a long furrow of disturbed soil and vegetation around it.

There is only one other person in our band capable of such weaves of air.

Caitlin breaks through the foliage after her prey, a huge grin across her face. I swear the hunt is the only time she looks truly happy. A fire burns within her small, emerald eyes and specks of mud accompany her dusting of freckles.

“No other fae gives the same thrill as hunting Cú Sídhe.” My sister laughs.

Chittering echoes nearby, followed by the warning shouts of men. Worry flares through me. It is a rare day that we lose one of our people on the hunt, but my heart could not bear it if a guard died on my watch.

I sharply bank my mare toward the fight. My horse leaps over stony outcrops and I am forced to duck under low branches that fly past, but I do not slow my pace.

I nock an arrow as the trees fall away to a shore of polished, colorful stones and ride into the shallow stream at its center. Icy droplets of water splash onto the exposed skin of my ankles, sending a shock through my skin.

On the opposite bank, three men approach the third fae, cornering it. This Cú Sídhe is far smaller than its recently dead brethren, and the dark browns of its mossy fur are akin to dead and rotting leaf litter. Its snarl exposes yellow teeth, with many missing. A scent of decay rolls off the creature, and even at this distance, my stomach rolls.

Another abomination.

The three mounted Protector Guards shout orders at each other, as they coordinate their attack, surrounding the beast. I wait, while my horse prances on the spot. This is their kill.

Brandan fires arrows into the fae’s flank, but without a mastery of elemental magic, they are mere inconveniences to the beast. The two other guards, brothers, throw spears tipped in flames, but their quarry moves with lightning speed, evading the missiles then snapping at their horses, causing them to rear.

Both brothers lose their seats and roll from their horses back to the ground.

My heart rate accelerates, but I continue to hold back.

Liam leaps to his feet first, all golden hair and pale skin, where the Cú Sídhe is shadows and darkness. He pulls his sword from its scabbard and engulfs the blade in tongues of blue flame, then charges. The hound chitters and yelps, backing away from those flames.

Cú Sídhe fear fire, as creatures of leaves and moss.

Aiden, the younger brother, sneaks behind the beast that is focused on Liam’s attack and his matching sword of fire prevents the fae’s retreat. In multiple, fluid motions, both brothers skewer the beast again and again, their quick footwork slipping them in and away before Cú Sídhe’s claws catch them.

The invader swipes frantically from side to side, as it cannot decide which man to gut. It becomes clumsy as blood seeps from it and smoke rolls from the wounds, then it thunders to the ground, almost crushing Liam beneath its weight.

I smile at my guards as pride fills me, but it falters as the Cú Sídhe’s pelt immediately whooshes up in flames.

“The gods damn it!” Liam spits as he attempts to throw handfuls of water onto the fire.

With a gentle twist of the wrist, I guide a volley of air into the stream, and a wave crashes down on the fire and the men fanning it alike. I bite back a smile as three sets of eyes narrow on me with rivulets of water running down their faces.

“Thank you, Lady Keira. Could you not send enough water to drown us next time?” There is a hint of humor in Liam’s voice.

I lead my mare to the shore and dismount. “If I had left it up to you, there would be only ashes for the druids to inspect. I bet they will pay you a decent price for a Twisted One.”

“There will be no eating this fae bastard.” Brandon adds. “Excuse the language, Lady.”

Aiden spits on the ground in reply.

Some would frown at my familiarity with the Protector Guard, but my father, the lord protector, is not one of those people.

I lift my parted riding skirts as I approach so the jade wool doesn’t drag in mud and toss the flame red curls of my hair over my shoulder, then crouch before the Cú Sídhe.

There are black clumps of mushrooms in its grassy fur, and mushy leaves fall from its form. They are rotting and covered in a spotted blight. The blood that clots its fur is black as tar, unlike the crimson that spills from healthy beasts.

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