Page 15 of The Stones for It
“You’re wrong,” I rasped.
Everyone kept insisting that Rattle was dead.
I may be new to the whole fae mate thing, but even I knew there was some bond that connected us. Some pull beneath my ribs that urged me to find him. Instinct told me I’d feel it if Rattle was really gone.
The gargoyle stared me down, all merciless neutrality even after the brutal passion we’d just shared. “You think you know better? That ahumancould possibly understand how Faerie’s Royal Hunters operate?”
I ignored his contempt, turning to Neiron with a snort. “Wow, Vixy, your cheery pal issuperhelpful.”
He gave me puppy-dog eyes, violet orbs somehow impossibly wide and shiny. “I know he’s a bit of a sourpuss, but he knows the Royal Hunters better than anyone. He used to… work with them.”
I’d had enough of his cryptic bullshit.
“We tried things your way, and all that happened was another stabbing.” I glared pointedly at the gargoyle. “Now, I’m going with my plan.”
He returned a derisive grunt. “Which is?”
My eye twitched in irritation, but I focused on Neiron instead. “I’m going to find my way out of the stupid glowy forest, track down a Royal Hunter and beat the location of my mate out of them.”
“Silly mortal, there is no escaping the Night Forest during a hunt.” Vrath crossed his arms, and I ignored the eye-catching way his biceps flexed and pecs popped.
“Fine.” My jaw clenched before I forcibly unlocked it. “Then I’ll look for a Royal Hunter in here to interrogate. If there’s no way out, who’s guarding the exits, huh?”
“Denial doesn’t make your Hunter any less dead.” Vrath sneered.
The last of my control snapped. I rounded on the giant brute with a snarl. “He’s not dead!”
My chest heaved, and the smirk on his smooth concrete lips had me itching for my blade again.
Neiron fanned himself with his claws. “Yeesh, get a room, you two.”
I aimed my glare at the kitsune.
That the gargoyle mirrored my movements only irritated me further.
Without another word, I strode past the dawn-hued bushes, stomping away from the exasperating fae and into the thick of the jungle.
I’d made it only a few steps when footfalls sounded behind me.
“So, which first?” Neiron bounced on the balls of his feet as he skipped up beside me. “There’s several magically barred portals that lead out of the forest, and only most are fraught with life-threatening peril.”
I jerked to a stop and pinched the bridge of my nose.
Of course he knew the way. Neiron was fae royalty. He’d likely been taking part in these dumb human-enslaving events for years. Had probably stolen away countless mortals like me for his court.
Our connection seemed more fragile than ever. What did I really know about him?
The fae were my enemy for longer than they’d been… whatever this was.
“Neiron…” I huffed, unsure how to address the endless questions battling for dominance. When it came down to it, though, I had more immediate problems. “The closest one, please.”
“Anything for you, sweet mate.” He angled my shoulders slightly right before giving me a little nudge to start walking.
A mountain of grey stomped behind the bubbly kitsune. Our eyes locked, and his narrowed into a death glare.
I returned the gesture and picked up the pace.
Chapter seven
