Page 64 of Tempting the Fae Lord
Curses.
Her laughter fuels my rage. I try again, with every bit of power at my disposal.
And again they clatter to the stones, useless.
“Perhaps you could best me in the human realm.” She stretches a hand in my direction. “But not here. Not where I’m meant to be.”
Another burst of her power knocks my head against the stones. Pain flares. The coppery bite of blood hits my nose. Her magic chains me in an unnatural hold.
She lunges at Gale and shoves him off Petru. Both young men cry out. Gale lands hard on his side but doesn’t let that stop him. He’s up and swiping at Petru’s heels before Sonja can drag him away.
Her attention pivots to Gale.
I try to stand and falter. “Don’t you dare hurt him. I’ll?—”
“You’ll what? Steal me from my rightful family? Take away my birthright? Fling me into a hell where I don’t belong?” She kicks Gale hard, knocking him back. “Too late. You’ve already done it.”
Gale rolls over, clutching his left arm with his right. His face has gone pale, but his stare is fixed on the death mage. “Petru. Help us.”
Petru shivers and mouths, “I can’t.”
But the swirling red cloud of his magic recedes, leaving an opening.
I reach deep inside, harnessing the fae power that flows through my royal blood, the magic I’ve honed for centuries, the iron well of strength of the vampire, and I rip my way out of her magical hold.
Sonja flees, yanking Petru along by the wrist.
The urge to give chase is nearly impossible to resist.
Nearly.
But Gale whimpers and curls in on himself. I must go to him.
I crawl free of my invisible prison and kneel at his side as they get away. “You’re injured.”
He watches through eyes squinted with pain. “So are you.”
“I’m fine.” A little blood. The back of my head. No matter. But Gale… I reach for his arm.
He flinches, protecting it on instinct.
“Broken?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” His stare grows distant. “They’re going to escape.”
“I’ll deal with them after.” I can’t leave Gale’s side. Not when he’s hurting. Not until I know the extent of the damage. Until I know he’s going to be all right.
Carefully, I gather him into my arms, watching for sore spots, and stand.
He melts into me like the ice crystals that scatter the floor, a limp puddle, wounded and frazzled.
She’ll pay for this. I shall see to it myself. Just as soon as I get him to safety.
Movement behind the game room door snags my attention.
“Ezra?” Eulayla’s voice, laced with fear, calling me by the name she only uses when emotions run high. “You all right out there?”
“We will be. She’s gone for now.”
