Page 367 of Primal Bonds

At this hour, the prince was probably asleep, but Adric couldn’t be sure. The powerful old fae was one of the few night fae who could tolerate the noonday sun.

And was Rosana with him, or elsewhere, with Blaer?

His stomach twisted into icy knots.

There was no choice but to hunker down on the branch to wait for someone to open a portal into the court. If possible, he’d slip inside before it closed, using his Gift to cloak his presence from the guards. But if not, he’d use his quartz to compel the person to allow him to pass through the portal.

Long minutes ticked by with nobody entering or leaving. In fact, it had been at least an hour since he’d seen anyone at all, even a human servant. Adric frowned. It was as if the shadows had thickened to conceal the court’s inhabitants. Could the wards have sensed him and reacted accordingly?

If only he knew more. But the night fae were the most secretive of the fae. He was lucky to have Fane’s intel; without it, he’d be going in completely blind.

He settled deeper into his cougar, drawing on its patience. Only his twitching tail betrayed his growing agitation.

More time passed. He’d been on the branch an hour now.

How long had Rosana been inside?

A fist squeezed his bowels. He knew—too well—what the night fae did to their prisoners. And it wouldn’t be quick. The motherfuckers liked to toy with their prey.

Don’t think about it. She’s smart—she’ll play for time.

Something rustled in the forest below.

Very slowly, he turned his head, scanning the undergrowth.

The big brown wolf was almost as good as Adric at concealing himself. But he couldn’t hide his musky scent…or his gleaming amber eyes.

Chapter 25

In person, Prince Langdon was even more beautiful.

Tall and lean, with silky black hair framing his narrow poet’s face. Against his pale skin, his lips were a dark, sensuous red, and the diamonds that outlined his ears and brows sparkled like tiny stars.

Rosana realized she was gaping. She closed her mouth with a snap.

“My lord.” Blaer dipped her shining blond head. “Peace to you and yours.”

“Peace, Lady Blaer,” the prince returned in a low, rich voice.

He paced forward, quiet as death, his gaze on Rosana. Distantly, she noted a night fae’s unpleasant scent, but against his unearthly beauty, it somehow didn’t matter.

He inclined his head to her. “And to you, Senhorita do Rio.”

So he knew who she was. She jerked her chin in acknowledgement. “Peace.”

“I offer her as a gift,” Blaer said.

“Do you?” The prince lifted a winged black brow.

A gift? Rosana forgot how gorgeous he was and narrowed her eyes. There were rules about these things. The fae couldn’t just snatch you without your permission.

“I agree to nothing,” she said. “I’m here against my will, and I demand to be returned to Rock Run immediately. My lord.”

Blaer just smiled.

Langdon stopped in front of Rosana. He was at least a foot taller. She had to tip her head back to meet his eyes.

He stared back, growing more beautiful by the second. Power enfolded her, as if he’d sprouted black wings and embraced her.

---