Page 40 of The Fallen Fae King

I don’t even flinch on the monster anymore.

He once carved LITTLE MONSTER into my skin in revenge for my scarring Sobek’s face.

Except, I had broken free from their torments by wounding Sobek.

Fighting back against bullies is the only way to silence them for good. The danger is worth the freedom.

Perhaps, I forgot that truth for a while.

Daire has taught me to find myself again. He has helped me to understand why rebelling…why freedom…matters.

“I don’t need anything from you,” I say. “You’re a dead Blood. What do I need to talk about with a ghost?”

The crocodile opens her mouth like she’s already imagining swallowing Horus.

Horus pales. “You’re the one who murdered my brother.”

“Executed him.” My voice is flat. “And now, I will execute you.”

Isis laughs, bitterly. “Who are you to make threats or demands? I own this court. Tonight you will jump into the Void and sacrifice yourself to save the realms. If you want your beloved nestmates to survive, then you will do everything that I say.”

So, that’s how it is.

“I already have a Blood Oath with Ruin,” I reply. “Bad luck.”

“Our dynasty should have always ruled Blood Kingdom.” Isis’ face is a mask of icy rage. “A freak like you should have been put down by Nebet, rather than trained as her pet assassin. It was her sacred duty, handed down through generations, to hunt monsters who inherited the Power. She failed in her duty.”

I don’t take my gaze away from Freya.

My Queen looks beautiful in the wedding dress, as I knew she would. I study how the bat circles the sun in gemstones on the front of the dress, as I circle her light. Her feet are bare.

They look blue with cold.

My eyes narrow.

“Return my Omega,” I snarl.

She needs to be wrapped in my wings, safe.

My heart hammers in my chest.

Unsettled by my distress, the crocodile lets out a harsh hiss.

Horus jumps. “You took my knot. I am taking your Omega.”

He tightens his hold on Freya, sinking his claws into her neck just enough to make her bleed.

My shadows whip around me in agitation at the scent of her blood on another vampire’s claws.

I am desperate to drag her away from him. But I can’t risk that he will rip out her throat.

I know Horus. The things that he has done, especially when he has drunk too much wine.

He will do it. I won’t risk Freya’s life on calling a bluff.

I won’t risk her for anything.

With a struggle, I force myself to slide my gaze to Isis. “By the Shadow Devils, what do you want?”