Page 5 of Stolen By Shadow Beasts

I’d been accused of being far too curious for my own good more times than I could count.

“I’m researching things that a deadly group would rather I didn’t.”

When I get her to safety, I will tell her all about my obsession. About the day my sister was born. About the day she first showed that she had the power to kill with a thought, and I knew for certain she was a dark fae. I loved her. I loved her as much as any brother could love his little sister. And the idea that the world would be cruel to her if they knew the truth had eaten me alive, even as a boy.

Yes, my father is a dark fae, and like most he can be cruel. He wears his darkness like a cape, keeping us at arm’s length. Keeping everyone but my mother away.

He is exactly like the dark fae people fear.

But Esmeray was never that way. She has a beautiful laugh, a wonderful smile, and a kindness deep in her soul that any light fae would envy. Her existence taught me that what we understand of dark fae is wrong, and I’m determined to show the world something that will get them to see that life isn’t so simple. That the dark fae can’t all be bad, and the light fae all good.

I researched. I obsessed. And all roads led me to the Royal Fae Academy. Here I knew I would learn the truth. And I did. Once I had it all organized, I would prove to the world what I know in my gut and dark fae will no longer be treated like second-class citizens.

Yes, I’d explain it all to my mate. Not about Esmeray. Not yet. That secret was one I had thought to take to my grave. But everything else my mate would learn.

There’s scraping in the tunnel behind us. I pick up speed, even though my Ann is slowing.

Whatever the secret society had sent after me…I have a feeling it has the power to kill a fae, or else they never would have sent it. As much as I want to turn around and fight it, the risk to my mate isn’t worth it.

I scoot to one side, resheath my dagger, and pick Ann up. A slight gasp of surprise leaves her lips and then I sit down, dangle my feet off the edge of the secret area, and jump down.

She stifles a scream that comes out as a wheeze and I keep running.

In the dark, it’s impossible to see the many hidden passageways and the dangers around us, but I don’t need my eyes. I know these tunnels all too well.

I stop and press a button on the wall. It’s soundless as it draws open, and then I climb in and close it behind me. I do this for three more walls, knowing it will be impossible for the beast to track us here. There’s no way it knows this place the way I do, even though it took me far too long to learn all these secrets.

At last, I set Ann down and push open the final wall. I gently steer her forward, then close the wall behind her. Grabbing the matches from where I keep them, I light the candles in the walls and turn to face my mate.

Her eyes are wide as she stares around my secret room. At the makeshift bed on the floor. At the food and water jugs lining the wall. At the desk with its piles of books and papers that I’d taken from around these tunnels to learn the secrets the society guarded so carefully.

“What is this place?” she whispers.

I lift my arms. “This is where I do my research. I know all of this is strange. I understand if you’re thinking that you must have the wrong mate.” I drop my hands, almost choking on the last words. The thought that she might not want me slams into me, and it feels like it takes effort not to crumble to my knees and beg her to reconsider.

Her gaze moves about the room, then falls back on me. “I want to know more. I want to know everything.”

I lick my lips, feeling uncertain. “Are you sure? Once you know, there’s no going back.”

She squares her small shoulders and her gaze meets mine. “I think it’s already too late.”

I release a slow breath. Okay. Here we go. “Everything you know is a lie…”

THREE

Ann

I just stare dumbfounded at the man in front of me. I’m not sure how many hours we’ve been talking, but it feels like nothing will ever be the same for me again. Rayne honestly believes that not only are dark and light fae equals, but that any fae is capable of learning the powers of the other type of fae. That, to me, is unbelievable. He says that it’s harder to learn the dark fae’s powers for us, but not impossible, and he’s been practicing.

“So one day you might be able to kill with just a thought?” I ask, making sure I understand him correctly.

He nods.

A small laugh of disbelief escapes my lips. “But light fae feed on joy and happiness, all the good emotions. Good emotions make us feel strong. They make us feel connected. How would we possibly be able to use their ability if we can’t feed on negative emotions like they can?”

“I think…I think we should be able to.”

I shake my head. “I’ve never once sensed someone’s jealousy. I’ve never once…drained someone of their negative emotions, like a damned vampire, and felt stronger. If I could do it, wouldn’t I be able to?”

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