Page 61 of Gilded Curses

The birds soared upward in various colors and screeches as they flew away from the sound. Their small, colorful bodies blocked out the sun before they fled deeper into the woods.

That sound meant Zeth now knew he’d be the one to lose a hand. Regret tugged at Orin, but he’d done what was necessary; done what they forced him to do.

“It’s time to return,” the main guard said. “Get the body.”

Two other guards picked the man up and carried him between them as they strode back through the woods. The buffoons were as loud on the way back, but it didn’t irritate Orin as much this time; he had nothing to lose anymore.

The guards surrounded Orin as they made their way back through the forest. It took them a lot less time to get out than it did to make their way to his prey, and while Orin was glad to be free of the trees, he was less happy to see Desmond and Sheree again, as well as all their asshole friends.

When he was in the woods, the rest of the Elite women had joined them as all pretense of this being a hunt for the men was over. He assumed they’d come in the carriages now parked behind the horses.

A cheer ran through more than half the crowd while the other half chugged their wine. It was easy to tell who had won their bets and who had lost.

He loathed these creatures, everything they were and everything they represented was the worst of all immortals. They’d made it so he didn’t enjoy playing games anymore, and he hated them for that too.

“It’s the dark fae!” Desmond declared. “As I knew it would be. Only a fool would bet against you!”

A murmur of anger ran through those who’d bet against him. Money exchanged hands, palms slapped against backs, and more bottles of wine emerged.

Desmond strode over to Orin and slapped him on the back. “You’ve yet to let me down, my friend.”

Orin bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile, but he couldn’t fake it as well as he used to with this man. Loth leaned away from Desmond until he pressed against Orin’s face.

This man’s touch made Orin’s skin crawl, but he refused to move away from Desmond. It would only amuse this gold-flecked abomination.

Something malevolent churned in Desmond’s eyes. “Come, sit, and enjoy the celebration of you!”

He released Orin’s shoulder and strode back toward the thick blankets and pillows the servants had spread across the ground. The Elites lounged on the cushions while eating from the platters overflowing with fruits, cheeses, loaves of bread, and meat.

Servants hurried through their tangle of limbs to refill their goblets. Orin didn’t join them on the blankets but stood to the side as he waited for another horn to blow.

All he wanted was to return to the castle and assure himself that Sahira was safe. He had to see and hold her again; only she could erase the memory of this day.

And if they’ve done something to her?

Then they’ll burn in the fires of wrath I unleash on them. Because nothing would stop him then, not even the safety of the others.

“They’re going to take Zeth’s hand,” Loth whispered.

“I know,” Orin murmured.

“I wish we could kill them.”

“So do I.”

Soon, they would pay for believing they had him and the others exactly where they wanted them. Soon, they would learn the wrath of the dark fae, but not until he was sure Sahira was safe.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the sun was sinking toward the tops of the trees when another loud horn blew. The birds that had resettled into the trees screeched as they took flight again.

At least another hour passed before Zeth, Fath, and their contingent of soldiers emerged with a blond-haired man’s body. Zeth emanated rage as he stalked between the guards surrounding him.

He could put up a fight and take many of them down before they overpowered him, but still, he strode forward with his shoulders back. Unlike him, Zeth hadn’t fallen for someone in the Cursed Realm, but, like him, he’d come to care for their friends.

Orin hadn’t always liked the demon, but it was clear Zeth was a man who had a strong sense of morals. Zeth knew he would lose his hand, but instead of taking down some of his guards, as he easily could, and trying to flee into the woods where he might escape them, the demon had returned to lose an appendage.

For the first time, Orin was also grateful for the demon. If Zeth hadn’t returned, Sahira, Pip, and Elsa would have paid for it.