Page 71 of House of Vampires and Flame

“What—what do you mean?” I asked defensively as I shifted my weight from foot to foot, ready to bolt.

“You’re not a shifter, Little Bob,” he said, the wind ruffling his reddish hair, “unless you prove me wrong and shift to a chihuahua, or a small bulldog if you prefer.”

He was half-teasing. While I was relieved that I hadn’t been made, both Sy and I bristled at the insult.

“You have a mage’s fire,” Cade continued. “I’ll have to settle this with Silas, since you’re obviously in the wrong house.”

I wasn’t a mage either. If any of the princes knew what I really was, they wouldn’t let me continue to breathe.

The Veil rippled. Instantly, I felt the presence of powerful beings on the other side. Two of the power signatures were familiar, and the third was also kind of familiar.

Prince Silas and Prince Killian stepped through.

Everyone looked on. Then the fae male Sy had fucked emerged. He was the third power.

Shit!

Warriors from different houses poured out as well, rallying around their princes.

I shrank back, ducking behind Cade, since he was closest to me and the biggest, but he stalked off toward the other princes, exposing me.

All three powerful men snagged their sharp gazes on me, as if power called power, especially after I’d just used my siphon ability.

A half-snarl appeared on Silas’s face. He was not pleased with my presence.

The fae sniffed in my direction, recognition flickering in his silvery eyes before a confused look dominated his strong, gorgeous face. He scented Sy in me, but his mind was telling him that no way could I be that female who fucked him into oblivion.

Sy perked up, peeking out at the fae through my eyes. Yummy, look at my man. I want to take him to the ground again.

Like hell you will, I snarled inwardly.

My heart thundering, my throat parched, I shoved Sy down harder than usual.

Surprise flitted by Killian’s storm-blue eyes at the sight of me before dark amusement tugged up his sensual lips. Heat pooled at my core, just like it did any time I was in his presence.

“Prince Rowan, how kind of you to finally join us mortals,” Cade purred, a smug smirk on his lips and a deep dimple on his cheek.

Double shit! This couldn’t be happening! The fae whom Sy fucked was the prince heir of the House of Fae. The only small mercy was that Prince Louis wasn’t here.

Cade flung his wand in the direction of the remains of the Shriekers. “And who else do we have here? Prince Killian and Prince Silas, you’re late! I’ve taken care of the problem for the realm. Again.”

“What is all this?” Silas demanded. “What the hell is going on?”

“We’ve got intruders,” Cade said grimly. “We need to sweep the entire realm and see if any more abominations got through the Veil. They’ll be killing supernaturals. I lost two members in the battle.”

Killian growled, dark lightning sparking at his fingertips. My eyes widened. He had power not of this realm. I wondered how strong his lightning was and if it could work on the Shriekers and reduce them to ashes.

“I’ve been hunting them outside the realm,” the chaos prince said, his gaze darting to me again before regarding the dead Shriekers.

“As have I and my men,” Prince Rowan said. “The abominations are here now. If they’re what I think they are, our realm is under the worst threat.”

I swallowed hard at his words, my heart racing. What else did the princes know? But at least they were finally aware of the threat posed by Ruin.

I can go to the fae prince tonight and find out, Sy offered.

Not a chance! I told her coldly. You’ll stay away from him.

“So, you two have been holding back crucial information that concerns the realm’s safety,” Cade drawled.

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