Page 10 of Until the Stars Fall

I turned to Marletta. “Leave. Now,” I commanded. The fae’s eyes twitched before she swung her attention to Brennan, sending him her silent question.

“You heard your prince.” Brennan merely pointed behind him, no disappointment on his face.

Marletta growled and pulled her shoulder violently from my grasp. I lifted my hands in surrender, and she stalked away, snarling at Brennan as she passed him. “You’ll never have another chance with me.”

Brennan laughed—he actuallylaughed—and I almost felt sorry for the female. Almost.

“I hope that’s not how you treat all the females you entertain,” I said, mentally cringing at his callousness.

Brennan sauntered over, giving me a casual shrug. “They all get over it. Eventually.”

“You won’t treat Princess Calla like that.” My tone came out more commanding than I’d intended, but he didn’t seem to notice or care as he rubbed a hand over his chin.

“You never know. Maybe she’s attracted to assholes.” He turned his palms face up as if asking me to seriously consider this possibility.

“Yes, I’m sure the sole heir to Arenysen, who could have any number of suitors in our lands and beyond, will swoon over your prickishness.”

He shrugged again, an upside-down smile appearing on his face. “It could happen.”

Before I could think of any response for him, a snarl—faint but undeniable—yanked at my attention, pulling my gaze back behind me. It came again, but this time, it was wrapped around a word—now.

A male.

Had Marletta run into someone when she’d left?

My heart picked up its pace with each second that passed.

No. This had come from behind me, not from where Marletta had retreated.

Lieke.

“Shit.”

I was already turning when Brennan said, “What’s the big deal? Our guests can take care of themselves.”

Over my shoulder I said, “She isn’t a guest. Get back to the party before the king realizes both his sons are missing.”

I didn’t wait to see if he complied before I was bounding back into the trees, shifting into my wolfhound form as I ran. The male had gone quiet, but I picked up his scent—and Lieke’s—soon enough. When her muffled cries finally reached me, I pushed myself faster.

As the trees thinned, I could see them. Could see how her feet dangled above the ground, kicking and struggling. Could see how his hand wrapped around her throat, holding her up and threatening to end her.

I didn’t think about who this fae was or why he was attacking her.

I didn’t care.

I only needed to stop him, to save her.

With a growl, I lunged.

CHAPTER 6

Lieke

One moment my world was fading away, the edges of my vision darkening with each squeeze of the fae’s strong grasp around my throat, and the next moment, I was falling.

I blinked rapidly, sure I was imagining the scene before me, but it remained the same.

The wolfhound from earlier had returned and latched its jaws onto the fae’s forearm. Its teeth clamped down tightly, biting into his flesh. The fae growled with more ferocity than he’d shown me, but no matter how he moved, stumbled, fought, or screamed, the wolfhound held fast.

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