Page 54 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
I cast a massive barrier around the running people. Unable to see it, they bounced off the hidden wall when they reached it, and varying emotions warred across the features of each individual’s face. When they faced me, it was through wide-eyed terror.
Although rage burned through me like wildfire, I waited for the humans to calm down enough so they’d be able to hear me.
“No further harm will come to you if you show us where my fae are being kept.” My voice resounded over the crowd.
The people looked at one another, some murmuring while others remained silent. I wasn’t sure if the confusion on their faces was real or dramatized. Sebastian had said his wife hadn’t known about the fae being abducted, but afterwitnessing how little I could trust him, I wasn’t sure if I believed him.
I grabbed the closest person, a child only a few years older than Javier. I gripped him with an arm across his chest while I drew my canines closer to his neck.
“My people.” The veins in my neck pulsed hard. “You will tell me where they are, or I will kill every single person here.”
“I don’t know,” the boy rasped out. “I-I don’t know.”
I plunged my canines through the boy’s thin flesh, ignoring the way he cried out. My heart thrashed, yelling at me to stop. This was wrong. So very, very wrong.
But I was desperate to find them. I was just as desperate to get back to Teddy, the kids, and our unborn babes.
This couldn’t be how I did it, though. I’d never be able to face my mate.
Disgusted with myself, I pushed the boy away and spit out his blood. He stumbled to the ground and scrambled away on his hands and knees. I let him, sending him a silent apology he’d never hear as two adults, possibly his parents, helped him to his feet.
Using my hand, I wiped the blood covering my mouth.
“Will no one come forward?” I asked, my voice steady.
Everly grabbed a male who appeared to be Donnie’s age. She pushed him toward me, but this time, it was Koa who grabbed him. The man shook while Koa traced his long, spindly fingers across his neck. The lirio licked his lips, his forked tongue slowly dancing across his mouth.
“We don’t know of any fae here,” the male said, his eyes wide, and his pulse drumming loud enough it reverberated in my head.
I looked up at the bright lights shining down from the many platforms around the compound. Each light pointed atus. Maybe the humans had hoped to blind us, not realizing how quickly we could adapt. I pointed toward the buildings also flooded with lights.
“You have electricity, do you not?” I asked.
The male paused before he nodded.
“I’d wager your phones still work,” I said slowly. “Am I correct in assuming your technology is still in use?”
The male’s throat bobbed when he nodded again.
“And your livestock and vegetation—how are they faring in this frigid climate?” I kept my voice level, watching each person’s expression as I quirked a brow in question. “How is it you have enough to feed everyone without running out?”
“I don’t know,” the male answered. “I never asked. We were just grateful to be surviving after the fae left.”
“Left? Your soldiers forced us out,” I said. “They said they didn’t want our help, all the while abducting my fae and using their magic to keep your compounds running and your stomachs full.”
“We didn’t know,” a familiar voice said.
Dr. Daniels stepped forward, and I snarled. If Teddy were here, she’d do far worse to this vile creature of a man. While his clothes appeared disheveled, his face remained rounded with proper nutrition.
“Do not come closer,” I told him.
He stopped.
“If you wish to survive this night, you will all return to your homes and not interfere with our search,” I said, dropping the barrier I’d formed. “I will find my people by any means necessary, and as you’ve witnessed, we have no qualms about killing you.”
Alastor stepped toward me and whispered, “I’ll grab thetraitorous human I left bound in the woods. Surely, Sebastian will know where they’re keeping the fae.”
Grateful, I bowed my head.
