Page 41 of Tucker's Strike

Nyx grins deviously and crosses his arms over his chest. “I did do that, and if I remember correctly, she was delightful. Served her purpose as I expected.” He somewhat reminds me of what the devil himself would look like with his devilish appearance.

“You’re sick.” My stomach churns, and the need to vomit grows with each and every word this man, no, that’s not the word, this sadistic fairy allows to pass his lips. “Why did you come here in the first place?”

“Curiosity?” Nyx states in question rather than answering me. Moving gracefully, so light on his feet, I find it nerve racking. He walks around me. “I found myself wondering what has Zurri in such a fit to get his hands on you. Though I did know he would be when I got your mother pregnant. I’d hoped to use you myself.”

“I’ll kill you before I let that happen,” I mutter and move toward the door, ready to get away from him as quickly as I can. I want Tucker here with me to shield me from this devil.

“I allowed your mother to take those branches with her,” Nyx finally states, halting my steps. Slowly, I turn toward him without speaking a word. I don’t think I could if I even tried. I simply stare at the Fae, with who I share nothing but the color of my eyes with. He looks at me with such a chilling expression. “I allowed your mother to escape from Faery and find her mate. Allowed her to take what could kill something as you and me with her. I didn’t know that she wouldn’t be with you while you grew up.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I finally manage to croak out.

“I find myself not liking the pain coursing through you right now. The fear and need you feel for your mate.” He shrugs. “I might be a sadistic fairy, as you believe, but I do have morals. Granted, they’re mine, and I can change them at will, but for some reason, I do not wish to see you harmed. You’re the blood of mine.” Nyx cocks his head slightly. “Not just that, but you hold the power of my mother.”

“Your mother?” I blurt, totally shocked by this.

“Yes, my mother. Your paternal grandmother. She passed over a thousand years ago at the hands of my brother, who wanted the powers you now have. She refused to gift them to him. It’s why you are known as the dragon bride in the prophecy.”

“I don’t understand,” I murmur, my brows furrowing as the door behind me is thrown open. I feel him without looking, but I don’t let his presence distract me from what Nyx just shared. “Why does it make me the dragon bride?”

“Because, my daughter, you hold the power to command the dragons in a way he cannot. He wanted you at his side because he’d use you to keep his kingdom the way he wishes. All you must do is embrace that side of you. With the help of your mate, you’ll be able to. You simply use the voice within you. The very same one you used to command the strands of time, and they shall listen.” Nyx looks behind me to Tucker. “You will treat her like the gift she is, or I’ll come upon you in a way you will not wish. You now have the answer to defeat Zurri.”

In the blink of an eye, Nyx vanishes just quickly as he appeared.

Slowly, I turn in Tucker’s arms. “Well, that was interesting.”

Tucker looks near on murderous, and his thoughts and emotions match just the expression perfectly. “The fuck just happened here.”

“I think Nyx just gave us a way to stop any bloodshed before it ever happens. We could go back to the dragon realm and put an end to all of this before Zurri can get here,” I remark, suddenly feeling elated by the truth.

“A little late for that.” Tucker growls, curling an arm tight around me. “They’ll be here at any time. But if we can end this without my brothers being killed by the fire-breathing fuckers, then we’ll handle this the way it needs to be done. He turns his head to the nightstand where my light sits. “Gonna have to take your light apart, little Fae. Don’t wanna fuck it up, but knowing what it’s made of, I ain’t about to keep it. I’ll fix it myself after this is done. Refashion it with a different wood. I don’t want you not to have it . . .”

“I don’t need it anymore.” The words come rushing from my lips without my stopping them.

What surprises me is how true it really is. As long as I have Tucker, then I’m okay. He’s my tiger prince from the light. Being able to hold him, to have the real thing, I don’t need the light.

“You’re always gonna have me, Lake. You and any cubs we have. I’m not goin’ anywhere. Glad you don’t think you need the night-light anymore. Regardless, I’ll still be fixing it later on. Maybe you can put it in our baby’s room.”

“What?” I blurt.

Tucker grins. “Definitely not the right time for this shit,” he states, pulling me tight to his front, one arm around my waist, the other going up to tangle his fingers in my hair. “But I don’t give a fuck. Just means one more thing to fight for. To strike where it won’t just hurt him but kill the fucker. You’re pregnant, Lake.”

I want to be thrilled, but a shiver of dread courses through my veins. What happens if I end up like my mom? How do I know how to raise a child?

“We’ll figure it all out together later on, little Fae. For now, put it out of your mind and worry about being able to use the voice Nyx told you to use,” Tucker orders, his tone gentle but firm.

He’s right. For right now, I need to worry about other things rather than being pregnant. The first order of business is to make sure the bloodshed is left out of the equation. If Zurri can’t use the other dragons, he’ll have no choice but to face off with Tucker.

At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tucker

I didn’t like it, none of it, but it makes sense. Damn if it doesn’t make sense. Weird as it may be, I understand it.

What I don’t understand is why the damn fairy decided to come here and tell us this at all. He didn’t have to. He could have stayed in it. But he’d shared what he knew about Lake that was so simple yet a pain in the ass all in one. She was going to have to face the dragons alongside me. My brothers and those who also came to help by putting themselves on the line to face off with fire-breathing dragons. Who the hell knew how many Zurri would be bringing with him.

I’d be lucky if she didn’t have to be a part of it, but no, of course, fate would not allow this to be so simple.

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