Page 20 of A Fate so Cruel

Rion pursed his lips. “What if I don’t want to?”

“We don’t have a choice. If you go back to the city—” she didn’t finish her sentence. “You’ll be safe here.”

“But what if someone tries to hurtyou?”

Saoirse adjusted the pillow on the couch and coaxed him to lie down at her side. “No one is going to hurt me.”

“Because they’ll think you didn’t hurt Father?”

She was silent for a long moment. “You don’t have to do that. You don’t have to take the blame.”

Rion sat back up. “He said you’d be in danger if I don’t.”

She clutched his hand. “You’llbe in danger if you do.”

“But I have you to protect me.”

She smiled at that. “Now and forever.”

“I want to help,” he said. “I don’t want anyone else to know.”

Her smile turned sad. “All right.”

“Promise?” Her eyes misted over. “Promise you’ll let me do it. I don’t want Alec or anyone else to be mad at you.”

“Okay.” She didn’t meet his gaze.

“Promise.”

Saoirse studied the defiance in his gaze and her lips trembled. “You’ll hate me for it, eventually.”

“No, I won’t. Let me help.” Rion could feel his magic stirring again, rising to circle them. He wanted to protect her, no matter what that meant for him.

A tear slid down her face and she relented. “I promise. Now try to get some sleep.”

He settled back down at her side and watched the red glow from the dying fire. Saoirse pulled him close, wrapping one arm around his middle. He began to drift but didn’t miss it when his sister whispered, “I’ll always protect you.”

The Cursed Fae and Broken Promises

Chapter One

Vines raced across the ground like serpents, ripping up from the earth and lashing out as Rion dodged and ducked beneath their rapid strikes. The stones and loose particles answered his call easily, veering to block the greenery and shredding it on impact before darting to the next.

He raised his sword and went in for the strike, right where he’d seen her vulner—a tree burst from the ground and clipped him hard beneath the chin before he could backpedal. Blood pooled in his mouth, but Rion ignored the coppery taste and dashed to the right. If he could move fast enough . . . more vines wrapped around his foot and dragged him down; he sliced through them with his magic and caught his balance before launching at her again.

She smirked, already anticipating his movements. She shifted into a perfect stance, her weight evenly distributed, sword up, ready to counter when he closed in.

The ground crumbled beneath her back foot. She tilted and cursed, then Rion used his magic to propel him forward. She pulled at the vines once more, but the ground moved beneath her other foot. There was no way for her to regain her balance in time.

Now. It had to be now. He’d never get another chance.

Rion slammed his elbow against her sternum and she hit the ground hard. He leaped, blood racing through his veins as victory closed in—a flash to his left, but too late. The trunk slammed into Rion’s side, sending him flying. He skidded across the ground. Rocks and thorny branches cut though his skin and Rion cursed before righting himself and clutching his ribs.

“The hell was that for?” Rion roared.

“You weren’t paying attention to your surroundings.”

“I almost had her.”

---