Page 173 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
Damn it.
I need to do this quick. The gray sea of cloud in the sky above is looking like it’s about to pour out its contents soon.
I recognize his presence before I hear his easy, light footsteps.
“Oh, it’s you,” Red mutters in lieu of a greeting.
The knight appears from the trees, dressed in a black battlesuit and a crimson cloak. I quickly move away from the guy to continue my hunt. Of course, like the complete fucker that he is, he trails behind me. He doesn’t make his stalking subtle either.
His presence becomes grating enough that I have to ask. “What are you doing?”
“Want to tell me why you’re not at the camp trying to win your wife back?” he asks right back.
It’s none of his goddamn business.
“Stop following me,” I tell him, inserting enough threat in my tone.
“I’m not following you. Aelfric wants me to patrol the camp. He will kill me for slacking,” he announces, flashing a dazzling smile.
So patrol away, leave,I almost tell him.
Either the devil or the gods must have blessed me because it hasn’t rained yet despite the distant thundering.I can’t afford to waste time driving Red away, so I let him shadow me and do whatever he wants.
I wish I could see the scene of what the hell had happened. I tried looking for it inside her head. Poking around a person’s consciousness is my expertise but Rhianelle’s mental barrier is too strong. I ended fucking her in her mind instead. I guess not all is wasted.
But now I have to rely on what little I saw in her blood to find those guys.
One of the beasts in me whispers,I’ve found them.
The one who punched her ribs. The one who kicked her shin. The one who kneed her in the guts. The one who sat on top of her.
That’s it. That’s it. I’m close.
But just like that the scent disappears again. This task is beginning to look like something futile. The forest has fallen so still that I can barely hear the sound of insects.
“You’re still here,” I mutter, turning to the red-hooded knight.
Red quirks a smile at the remark, running a hand over his hair. “I have this odd hunch you’re about to do something stupid.”
If I were a mortal, I would have rolled my eyes.
A small pause of silence hangs between us before he finally says, “You’re out here to kill.”
There is no judgement in his eyes, only raw curiosity.
I consider telling the knight about what happened to Rhianelle. I’m sure Red will hunt them like a hound if I put him on the trail.
No.
Those scumbags are mine and mine alone. My gut burns at the mere memory of her coming home to me in that battered state. When I find the fuckers who did that to her, they’ll wish they’d never been born.
Red raises a brow. “Well, what is it?”
“Nothing.” I let out a heavy sigh, expelling the frustration from my lungs.
He continues to follow me while his stalker is close on his heels. I elevate my gaze to the creature in the forest. The wolf wrinkles his jowls, its eyes locked on Red.
“It’s following you again,” I mutter.
