Page 231 of The Fallen Fae King

“No one. But we need to lead Aurelius to attack us.”

“That won’t be a problem.” Aurelius’ coldly furious voice sounds behind me. “What the fuck have you done?”

“Shit.” I spin away from Lanlin. “Run.”

“You had better run,” Aurelius roars. “Bodies of Maximinus’ guards littered throughout my city. Lanlin freed. And look at the fucking state of my study. My papers are ruined.”

I burst out laughing. “I knew that you’d go feral about the papers.”

Aurelius bellows.

I sniff but because of the rose bushes, I can’t tell whether my Omega is with Aurelius.

“Freya is behind him,” Lanlin whispers.

My shoulders slump in relief.

Then Lanlin clutches my elbow and drags me with dizzying speed through the archway that leads to a musty, narrow corridor.

Five’s fur bristles with fury.

The wings of the moths and ravens brush across my head, cheeks, and hands, as the creatures that belong to Lanlin and me fly after us in a protective circle.

Lanlin pushes aside a tatty tapestry to reveal a hidden stairway.

I gasp at how quickly he drags me through the darkness up the narrow steps of the North Tower.

Adrenaline spikes through me, as behind me I hear Aurelius’ clattering footfalls.

We climb higher and higher.

Will Aurelius catch us?

I hope Freya is able to keep up.

Lanlin draws us to an abrupt stop in front of a gilt door.

Raggedly breathing, I nearly overbalance. Lanlin holds tightly onto me, however, stopping me from falling backward and into the arms of the dragon who would likely burn me for destroying his royal nest.

Our nest.

Guilt twinges through me.

I steel myself, however, because my heart is leaping with excitement.

The portal is just on the other side of this door.

Everything that I have been working toward for so long.

Finally.

I fumble for the door handle, and Lanlin allows me this moment. I push it down.

Then Lanlin lets go of me, and instantly, I miss his touch. I stumble into the tower’s room in a cloud of white moth and black raven wings.

Then I raise my arm in front of my eyes, blinded by the golden light. Slowly, I lower my arm, squinting around at the room.

I can’t see anything but gold.