Page 39 of Filthy Fae

Both Aaron and I lunged for Mack as he rolled, but a wall of wind shoved us back. We tumbled onto the grass as Titania tapped one long fingernail against the surface of the table. “Tick, tock.”

The door to the great redwood burst open, and a group of fae and humans tumbled out, cries of terror rising when they saw the guests at the table. Several had cameras hanging from their hands, and a few had microphones attached to long sticks. They wore bright yellow shirts that read My Fairytale Life.

Just behind Princess Mab’s film crew, an eight-foot grayish-white creature leapt down the main staircase, its crimson tongue snapping out and smacking into the back of one of the fleeing film crew members. The fae at the head table seemed locked in one moment of confusion before all hell broke loose. All four of Queen Titania’s guards wheeled to attack the massive pale creature, moving so fast they blurred.

Mack stumbled to his feet, no longer caught in the wind vortex.

“Run!” Aaron yelled as he grabbed onto both Mack and me.

“What about Mab?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder. Mab leapt over the banquet table, leaving her terrified film crew to run around like headless chickens.

“My sister will take care of herself,” Mack said. “Trust me.” He didn’t have to say it twice. It might not have been the distraction we were waiting for, but it was definitely sidetracking the queen. Titania floated above the ground, sending gust after gust of wind at the creature.

“That’s one of those things,” I yelled as I ran. “The ghoul things that attacked Darrel and me.”

It had taken me a moment to recognize it as the same type of creature that attacked me at my apartment building. This one was even bigger, and except for its massive, whip-like tongue, its proportions and posture looked more human. It also had eyes.

At the forest line, I glanced back one last time. The creature’s gaze locked onto me as he dove past the fae soldier’s blows. His tongue whipped out, striking all four guards across the face. The creature plowed over the table, hunched forward like a bull, and charged straight for us.

It blurred into a smear of gray, and I shoved Aaron to the side as the creature’s tongue skimmed across my mate’s cheek. The giant spun, flinging his tongue like a whip and smacking it into Mack’s hand as he blocked his face.

I lunged, my claws lengthening as I prepared for attack, but the creature rushed away, vanishing into the darkness of the forest.

Queen Titania pointed to me. “She brought that creature to attack us. Hunt her down and kill her.”

Chapter Sixteen

Mack

Arrows whistled by us and thudded into trees. Bark flew as we rushed through the forest I knew so well. This was a place of happiness, a place of celebration. In just one night, my mother had turned it into a place of horror.

A fae dropped from the trees directly in our path—Autumn court if I went by his fiery red hair. He had a dagger already drawn. I didn’t slow. I pushed myself faster, then bunched to spring. I flew through the air, slamming into him at breakneck speed. We shot backward, his body colliding with a tree and bouncing off. I elbowed his temple, knocking him as hard as possible before leaping back.

“Don’t kill them!” Scarlet yelled. “I’m still hoping for peace.”

“I didn’t kill him.”

I wouldn’t kill if there was any other choice.

Not now.

Not ever.

I leapt over the unknown fae’s body and started forward again. Even if my mother welcomed me back to court, this night could never be undone. All I could do now was try to make my exile mean something.

“When am I going to be able to kill something that’s attacking us?” Aaron growled as he leapt into the air. “First the ghoul, now that fae hunter.”

“Open a door,” I called to Scarlet as she was already a few trees ahead. “Any door. Here, this one’s open!”

Scarlet was already heading there. She leaned into the run, her gaze fixed on that door like she meant to hurtle straight through whether it was open or not.

It began to slam closed.

Scarlet dove for the opening and rammed her leg in before it could shut. “Oxonos!”

Aaron and I slammed into the painted wood, and it gave way beneath our weight, smacking into a familiar fae on the other side. Oxonos’ long, silvery hair flew around his head as he spun through the air, his arms sweeping out in broad, dancing gestures. I tumbled into a parlor along with the others, falling end over end and smacking into a tea tray. The platter went flying, splashing my front with cold, rancid smelling liquid. The teapot smashed into a painting of a hunting hound, spilling liquid everywhere.

Oxonos performed a motion that looked very much like the Worm, moving his body like a wave and kicking the wooden door closed. Within seconds, loud thuds sounded, and arrow tips peeked through.