Page 51 of Immortal Sins
The man rolls his eyes. “Stogg!”
I do not have to know ancient Fae to interpret the meaning of that last part. The dull, irksome pressure on my windpipe eases at last, and I spring to my feet. “Who are you?” I repeat.
A thick wool coat appears out of thin air at my feet. I slip it on and straighten the lapels to keep a smidge of composure.
The Fae motions for me to sit. “Down, little girl. I have no interest in you.”
I fall to my ass on the rock. My pubic bone screams in pain. “Stop doing that!” Magic dances in my bones, and a strong undercurrent of infernal fire crackles beneath my skin. “Let me stand up, or by the Dark Gods—”
Sometimes, evenfamilyneeds a punch of forbidden magic in the face.
A piercing amber gaze, so similar to Cole’s, steals my thoughts. His age only enhances the other-worldly beauty, the beckoning Fae magic. The sorcerer tilts his head as purple flares spark off my skin.
Cole clears his throat, managing to remain princely despite his nakedness. “Why are you here, uncle?”
Uncle. There. Wasn’t so difficult.
The magical hold releases my muscles as Cole’sunclewalks away. “I came to kill you. Now, I’m partial to a drink. Get dressed,lillem. You have a lot to explain.”
I tie the coat’s sash over my stomach. I really need to keep my clothes on more.
Spear-yielding uncleburies the head of his scary pole in the grass and passes his chainmail over his head before he sits in the cabana, at the edge of a black velvet lounge chair that’s part of a matching set.
A bucket of ice keeps a bottle of champagne cold in the narrow space between the chairs. Two half-full flutes glisten with condensation on the table in the corner.
The Fae digs a flask from his interior pocket, uncorks the top, and raises it in cheer. “To young fucking love.”
“Cheers.” I snatch a champagne flute and down it in one gulp. The citrus and bubbles return a bit of life to my body, my muscles still stiff from the man’s invisible hold—and the sex-on-rocks situation.
Cole grabs a white towel from the table and washes the blood dripping from his neck. “When did you get here?”
“I came here as soon as I heard. Took you long enough to join, but I couldn’t attack you at the palace, could I?”
Cole chucks out a dark laugh, and it confirms my hunch that his uncle was actually prepared to kill him.
We observe each other for a minute. Maybe two. The silence stretches and expands.
“Are Fae family meetings always so tense?” I joke. Knowing Cole, it shouldn’t surprise me. Serves me right to forget what I married into.
“Erron, Jules. Jules, Erron,” Cole says with a smirk, and I know him well enough by now to suspect Erron is somewhat of a friend—blood-shedding, murderous tendencies aside.
The flask runs out, and Erron shakes it upside down with a puzzled look as though he can’t believe it’s already empty. He drags the back of his tattooed hand across his lips. Fae alphabet decorates each of his knuckles.
“Who ground the angel dust?” His gruff tone remains steady, but his amber irises dim.
Fear drums in my veins. I’m sure that, if Cole’s answers aren’t satisfactory, the spear might come into play again.
Cole plays with his colorful rings. “Daniel Osbourne, Dark Falls’ new headmaster.”
“How did you do it?”
“She was unconscious when I got there. Ripe for the kill.”
“Was he acting alone?” Erron’s quick interrogation is meant to leave no time for fibs.
Cole nods. “As far as we know.”
I swallow hard, grateful that Cole didn’t mention Allie’s existence.
