Page 24 of His Lucky Moon Mate

The Fae’s eyes snapped from Binder’s to Shannon’s, then to her father’s. He snarled angrily in a language Binder did not understand. But he did not have to speak the tongue to know they were in danger.

“Da, what did you do?” Shannon whispered, her tears wetting his shirt.

“Your father placed a wager, my dear. A wager he lost,” the Fae said, his eyes shining with glee and perhaps a touch of madness.

“What does that have to do with Shannon?” Binder asked, a sneaking suspicion growing inside him like a weed.

He gritted his teeth, posture defensive as he tried to find a safe way out of this mess for his mate. He had teeth and claws, that was true, but this Fae Lord had magic. And they weren’t exactly in Maccon City anymore. Shit. What the hell was her father thinking?

“I made a mistake, Shannon. It was long ago,” Keegan explained to his daughter, grimacing as the Fae kept him firmly in the grips of his evil magic.

And it was evil.

Binder recognized the stink of it now. Like sulfur and ash. He crouched slightly, ready to defend his mate against Silver, the Fae Lord, as he stalked closer. His gaze was intent upon him, clearly a threat. But Binder could not reach his Wolf. Yes, he growled and snarled, but the animal was not responding.

“He really did not tell you, did he, Princess Mariposa?” the Fae murmured, looking past Binder to gaze upon Shannon.

Fuck this guy. Tear his eyes out of his head for looking at what’s ours.

But that was his Wolf’s answer. Binder had to think. He had to use his brain and not simply react, or it could cost him more than he was willing to pay. It could cost him her.

Fuck no. Never that.

“Your father was quite the gambler in his youth, Princess.”

“Why are you calling me that?”

“Do you not know of your mother, child? She was the last of the royal house of the Mariposa. How she allowed this cretin to seduce her, I do not know. But he stole her from me. He brought his carnival of games of chance, and he stole her. But I took my revenge?—”

“D-didn’t know it was you—agh!” her father cried out.

“Yes, I was in disguise when I came to play hisLucky Moongames. Twenty thousand suns must have risen and fallen since then, and now the time has come to collect my prize. You, Princess. You are mine!”

Rage simmered beneath Binder’s glare as he turned his body, blocking Shannon from the hated Fae’s stare. He could not believe this arrogant prick really thought she was something he could simply win. She was more than that. So much more. And that motherfucker was not going to lay one long-nailed finger on her.

Not as long as there was breath in Binder’s body.

“No! That is where you are wrong. Shannon Rose is my mate. I have already claimed her with my bite and my bond.”

“You have bedded her? Then I shall rid you from this realm and cover your mark with mine,” Silver, the Fae Lord, sneered.

“Over my dead body,” Binder growled, his chest huffing with anger and the primordial need to protect.

“That can be arranged!” the Fae shouted, hands up and gaze locked.

Binder felt the first tendrils of his magical attack striking at his skin and he snarled, determined to live through it. He felt his hold on his human form slip. His Wolf was there, just below the surface, but something was wrong. He did not feel the same.

“Stop it! STOP!” Shannon shouted, moving to Binder’s side.

“Dammit, Butterfly, get behind me,” he grunted.

“No! He will kill you! We have to give him something else to focus on,” she hissed, and Binder blinked.

Bloody hell. She was right. Until he could reach his Wolf, he was vulnerable. They all were. The Fae cocked his head to the side, looking more animal than humanoid. He dropped Shannon’s father from his magical hold on to the hard ground. The Leprechaun landed with a thud.

“Da!”

“Look upon me, Princess. Yes, you are plump but fair, very fair,” he murmured, and Binder snapped.

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