Page 35 of The Fallen Fae King

Daire collapses and stills.

Finally, his gaze settles on me, and the relief that he can see me is so intense that I collapse against his chest.

“I’m free,” he whispers.

Daire takes one deep breath, before his eyes slip shut, and his head falls back.

He doesn’t move.

I stare at him.

“Daire?” I sit up, trembling. “Daire?”

He doesn’t reply.

He doesn’t move.

He doesn’t open his eyes.

No, no, no…

I shake him. “Wake up.”

Daire’s wings hang limply on the bed.

He should never look like this. Daire is so full of fucking life.

The lodestone sits darkly on the white sheets mocking me.

What in the name of the Shadow Gods have I done?

“Open your eyes.” I bite hard into the snowflake bond mark. I can’t feel any response. Why can’t I feel his emotions? Something. I bite even harder. “Please…”

When I hear slow clapping from the doorway, my head snaps up. “I thought that I would have two of my brother’s blood mates to kill. But it looks like the pretty wolf has already slaughtered the filthy fae for me.”

I growl, hunching protectively in front of Daire.

Horus, Lanlin’s dangerous half-brother from the House of Crocodile and Grand Mage, strolls into the chamber.

He is younger than Lanlin, smaller and prettier, dressed in a crocodile leather outfit that is artfully designed to show off his legs and chest.

Horus is smothered in collar jewelry, earrings, and bracelets of peridot and emerald. His long black curls drip around his shoulders.

He is swaying, as if he is still drunk from the ball.

Since Shadow sank her teeth between Horus’ legs, tearing off his knot at Lanlin’s command for using his power of compulsion on Daire and me, the Alpha has understandably lost his swagger.

“I’m not one of the priestess Omegas who’ll fall at your feet and suck your cock when you flutter your eyelashes.” I scramble over the bed, diving for the box. “Oh wait, you don’t have a knot anymore to suck.”

Horus’ pheromones become thick with fury, but I don’t let them drive me to my knees. Instead, I remember my training from the Shadow Academy and snatch one of Daire’s daggers.

I try not to think about Daire behind me lying still on those white, white sheets.

I hold the dagger in front of me. “You’re not a warrior. If you come any closer, you’ll lose your balls as well as your knot. You’re a weak, cowardly mage who hid behind his brutish brother. But Sobek is dead now.”

“And who killed him?” Horus roars, his eyes gleaming with tears.

Suddenly, I’m falling into his dark gaze, as he steps toward me.