Page 95 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

“What in the hells have you done to me?”

“Don’t like that much, do we, huh? Which one, Blair Alaric? Tell me before I run out of patience.”

“Go to hell! Just kill me.”

“You think your mighty aunt wants her only heir dead?” he asked instead.

She frowned. “Why leave me alive?” It truly interested her. Why stall instead of just finishing her off?

“I have my reasons, but my patience is running thin. Tell me, or I will deliver your head to my king. Your choice.”

She believed him. As much as she hated it. Still, she made herself laugh. “Then go ahead, taste my blood, elf. And suffocate on it.”

“I’m offering you a chance, you mad creature.”

“What you don’t understand is that, if you don’t kill me, it will be my aunt’s hands ripping out my innards.”

“I see. Gatilla’s famous generosity. Then don’t tell your aunt. Go and only tell the angel, since it’s his bed you’re warming, judging by his smell all over you.”

What the fuck? How did he…? How could he smell Caryan on her beneath all her magic? It shouldn’t be possible.

Her voice sounded strained even to her ears when she asked, “You think Caryan will spare me?”

She realized the moment the question left her mouth that she had no clue how Caryan would react to her failure. Yes, she shared his bed, but Caryan was cruel and cold in a different way. Different from all other fae. He had no reputation for mercy. She didn’t really want to find out whether this held true for his lovers, or whether she was going to be the exception.

Or whether he would just report her to her aunt because he was her slave after all.

A deep, dark part of her was afraid of the truth. Afraid to find out.

“Only one way to find out, witch,” the elf blurted, reading her thoughts, so self-righteous she’d love to smack his teeth out.

“Fuck you.”

“Tell the angel this is a gift for him. A gift he shall not forget. The way I know him, he will see reason,” he seethed right into her ear before she was shoved so hard against that wall she saw stars.

By the time her vision cleared and she swiveled around to pierce his flesh, he was long gone.

29

Melody

I gasp as I jolt awake. The red moonlight reflects off a dagger above me. A man towers at the foot of my bed, huge membrane wings flaring wide behind him.

What the hell?

Another is to my right. Instinct and training make me act, make me kick out and hit the solar plexus of the one to my right before I roll out of bed on the other side. I must have hit home because he sighs, dropping a long sword.

Not that he needs one, because long, evil talons emerge from where his fingers should be.

My heart leaps right into my throat, hammering like mad as I meet their shining eyes. Men—almost men—in some kind of scaled armor. Large, sharp claws protrude out of their hands and their wings. Huge, leathery wings, graced with a demonic claw at their apex, silvery veins shimmering through the thin membrane.

Wings.That explains how they got in.

I brush my lose hair out of my face—long hair is shit for a fight, but I didn’t expect one—and meet their wide eyes.

Judging by their expressions, at least I surprised them too.Good.

The one at the bed reacts first. He lunges for me but is slowed down by the sheer size of his wings. I dodge and slam my elbow intohis ribs, sending him careening onto my bed and into the other one. At least their wings are a disadvantage in a tiny room like this.

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