Page 32 of Claimed By Night

“She’s been out of her mind for who knows how long,” the Seelie King starts, taking another step as if he wants to be far away from me.

“No,” I interrupt, then need to take another deep breath. I’m pushing myself too hard.

“Shhh,” the Shadow King says to me, a kind expression on his stern face. Then he growls as he grips the Seelie King’s arm and holds him firmly. “What the bloody fuck is she talking about?”

“She’s just come out of a fuckingAtacomitestupor and whatever she’s talking about might as well be the ravings of a lunatic…”

“I’m not a… lunatic,” I argue.

“Cambion, what did you see when she touched you?” the Shadow King demands again.

The Seelie King finally meets his gaze and both of them look like they’re within seconds of attacking each other. “If you’d really like to know, you fucking barbarian, I saw her beneath me while I fucked her and she begged me for more.”

While his description exaggerates the truth somewhat, it has the desired effect. The Shadow King’s expression drops and his eyes darken as his hands ball into fists. He swallows hard.

“Would you like to know more?” the Seelie King continues, baiting the larger man. “Would you like to know how tight and wet she was?”

“Shut the fuck up,” the Shadow King snarls.

“Or how fucking good she felt each time I plunged into her?”

“Shut your fucking mouth.”

“He must… come with… us,” I tell them, as I move my gaze from the Seelie King to the shadow warrior who holds him hostage. The King of Shadow will help me. I’m not sure how I know this, but I do all the same.

Eilish, your enemies have awareness,the woman’s voice says inside my head, and it sounds urgent.They are hunting you again. You cannot tarry any longer. You must move. Now.

“We have no… more time,” I explain, and I have to close my eyes to catch my breath. The exhaustion is growing, claiming me. “They’re coming.”

The Shadow King nods as if he understands my convoluted words, as if he understands who “they” are. Then, he turns his steely gray gaze to the King of the Seelie and his eyes narrow.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” he says.

Before the Seelie King can defend himself, shadows begin to spin around him, enveloping him in a cocoon of darkness. Seconds later, the darkness disintegrates and the Seelie King collapses on the ground.

CHAPTER TEN

DRAGAN

Geldingstock

Fae Realm

“My liege,” Thoradin says, worry in his voice. I’ve noticed it, too—the tendrils of gray creeping up from my fingertips with a hardness that numbs my extremities. Early in my exile, we tested the limits of our imprisonment and, long story short, it’s not a limit I care to test again.

I reach down and haul Cambion over my shoulder. The asshole isn’t exactly light. “I’m fucking aware we need to leave!”

Turn into stone now and who knows how long it would take us to make it back to the Shadow Realm. Yes, all Cambion would have to do is return us once he awoke, but after knocking him out with my Arcane Magic, I imagine he’ll be a sore loser.

“I’m comin’ with you,” the sprite says, flapping obnoxiously in front of my face until I wish I had a fly swatter. “Wherever the hell’s you’re goin’ to.”

“I don’t care what you do,” I respond as I turn to face Thoradin. “The angel.”

He nods and strides up to her, leaning down as he gingerly places one arm beneath her legs and the other beneath her back, hauling her into his chest. I notice she’s too exhausted to hold on, but rests her head against him as her eyelids flutter closed and she breathes deeply. Yes, she’s still wearing only a sheet, but we don’t have time to find her anything else right now. Time is no longer at our disposal.

I don’t like seeing her in Thoradin’s arms, and I suddenly regret going for Cambion when I could be holding her. But no matter. I have more important problems to worry about.

Thoradin leads the way out of Cambion’s house, back into the natural world. I am quick behind him. Once outside, he stalls and glances back at me.

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