Page 1

Ryker

I stepped into the wide street of the marketplace, and the smell of piss assaulted my nostrils. As my boots connected with the cobblestone, a loud splash met my ears, and something wet seeped into the fabric of my trousers. My upper lip curled, and I had to force myself to contain my snarl.

That better not have been piss.

While I loathed the Seelie Court at all times, it was the fact that they insisted on pretending their kingdom was more elegant, more pristine, more superior, that truly irked me. Once you ventured outside of the palace walls, their streets reeked of piss and other filth, the same as everywhere else.

“Ryker,” Malesh called, jutting his chin toward a man lounging against the wall of an alley.

He hid in the shadows, pulling the hood of his cloak low over his face, obscuring his features from anyone passing by. He was a bulky man, easily six feet tall and almost as wide. The broad span of his shoulders and the thick limbs masquerading as arms made him appear vicious and lethal.

The nervous glances over his shoulder and the unsettled way he shuffled his feet told me he was the man we had come to meet.

I tilted my head toward the man, signaling for Malesh and Eamon to follow me as I strode toward him.

The market buzzed with activity, its air heavy with the aroma of spices and something sweet. Animated conversations surrounded me, but the moment they glimpsed our trio, they moved as though they were fleeing the Wild Hunt.

They could sense the danger lurking in their midst. Their primal instincts flared to life, urging them to seek safety… far away from me.

I pulled my hood lower over my head to avoid being recognized. Being the Crown Prince of the Unseelie Fae, my presence in the Seelie Kingdom wouldn’t go unnoticed. I needed to be quick, cautious, and, most importantly, invisible. My eyes scanned every face for any sign of recognition as I moved with purposeful strides toward the alley.

Ahead of us, a young boy, maybe twelve years old, pulled a cart full of vegetables. He peered over his shoulder and jumped when he saw the three of us following him.

I supposed we didn’t exactly give off welcoming vibes with all three of us dressed in black and our faces hidden beneath our cloaks. Not to mention the array of weapons we each carried. I had my longsword sheathed at my waist, my hand resting on the pommel as if expecting a need to draw it. There were also a dozen daggers concealed beneath my cloak, not that the boy could see those.

On my right, Malesh wore twin blades across his back, a battle axe hung from his hip, and he was casually using one of his daggers to clean beneath his fingernails. Eamon, who was on my left, had a lethal-looking crossbow hanging over his shoulder, already pulled taut with a bolt just waiting to be unleashed. He too had a longsword strapped to his hip and, unlike me, he wore his daggers proudly, sheathed in his thigh holsters and within reach, should the need arise.

So it was little surprise when the boy darted to the side, leaving the path in front of us clear.

When we reached the man awaiting our arrival, we took three steps past him, moving further into the shadows, and gestured for him to follow us.

“Your Highness,” he said, his voice low and rough. “I have news of the Crimson Enclave.”

“Lower your voice,” Malesh hissed.

“Apologies, Your Highness,” the man whispered.

I gave him a curt nod, encouraging him to continue.

The man wiped his meaty fingers on his tunic, the only sign he was nervous about what he had to say.

“Word is, they are no longer focusing their efforts on the King.” His gaze darted to me, and I caught the hint of green eyes peeking out beneath his hood.

It had been damn near impossible to get any solid information on the remaining faction of the Wraith Borne. Those who survived the Cleansing had disappeared, staying hidden for years. The Crimson Enclave, as they now referred to themselves, had only started to retaliate in the last decade or so.

Their sole purpose was to bring about the death of our King, my father, and it was my duty to ensure they never succeeded.

They had first attacked our outermost villages in an attempt to draw out my father. Initially, it was only minor incidents: raids on food supplies and livestock, and the destruction of roads and bridges. When those tactics failed, they slowly escalated until they were slaughtering entire villages.

The attacks had become more frequent and more gruesome in recent months. The people were terrified, but my father and the council ignored the problem. Instead, they made me responsible for suppressing any unrest.

It didn’t help that my father continued to host extravagant events at the palace, a demonstration of exorbitant wealth and gluttony while others starved and were forced to flee their homes.

“It appears you have garnered their attention, my Prince,” the man said, drawing me back to the present.

“What does that mean?” Eamon pressed.

“My source didn’t have all the details, but it seems the Crimson Enclave is seeking a way to weaken your power. They know you are the strongest member of the royal family and the greatest threat they need to overcome to unseat your father.”

“Can you provide evidence beyond mere speculation?” Malesh gritted out.

“I’m afraid that’s all my source could tell me. I know it isn’t much, but I thought it prudent to alert you nonetheless.”

“Thank you,” I said and nodded to Eamon. “Pay the man.”

Turning on my heel, I started back toward where we had tethered our horses. While there was little to go on, I wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the warning. I would remain vigilant.

It was no secret that I was more powerful than my father. It was why he trusted me to quash any resistance to his rule, but that wasn’t the only reason he used me as a shield. My father was paranoid about any potential threat to his power. Keeping me away from the council and out among the people served two functions. My absence from the palace made it less likely that I would earn the council’s favor. Sending me out to disperse any unrest from the starving and victimized within our kingdom also made me the villain.

I was pulled from my ruminations when I caught the most delicious scent, a mixture of vanilla and wildflowers, and something… unique. Whatever it was, it was intoxicating, euphoric, even.

The marketplace faded into the background, and my attention narrowed as I tried to locate its source.

A strange feeling stirred to life within me, foreign yet insistent. Then something tightened in my chest, and a tugging sensation pulled at my ribcage. It wasn’t painful, exactly, but uncomfortable. Almost as if my skin was too tight.

I scanned the crowded marketplace and inhaled deeply. That same enticing scent filled my nostrils, and a low growl escaped me without warning.

What the fuck was happening to me?

My every instinct was suddenly alert, and my muscles were coiled tight with tension as if preparing to spring into action at any moment. The feeling grew stronger, more potent, as the seconds ticked by, and I felt as though there was a caged beast inside me, prowling endlessly, just waiting to be set free.

Then I saw her.

It was almost by accident. A glimpse of something — no, someone — I may have missed, if not for the hulking man who stepped to the side.

She had long brown hair, which she wore in a braid, and a radiant smile that captivated all of my attention. My throat thickened, and I swallowed roughly as I watched her, transfixed, too afraid to even blink in case she disappeared.

She was talking excitedly with another man, and the sight had me clenching my hands into fists. The sudden surge of jealousy that ravaged me caught me by surprise, and I had to stop myself from marching over to them and snatching her away.

The woman had a petite frame, and she possessed the type of figure that would have men falling to their knees if only she would let them worship at her feet. Her rounded hips would be perfect for gripping tightly while I pounded into her from behind, and her breasts were just the right size to fill my palm. The slender column of her neck would look exquisite with my hand wrapped around it, cutting off her oxygen until she came so violently that she saw stars.

Fuck. Now I was hard.

When a breathy laugh escaped her lips, the tugging sensation in my chest started up again, and my feet moved of their own accord. When I realized what was happening, I dug my heels into the ground to stop myself.

As if sensing my presence, the woman turned, her gaze meeting mine, her eyes a rich brown. She was stunning, breathtaking, ethereal even, and I couldn’t look away despite my best efforts.

She held me imprisoned with her gaze, and I smirked at her as I stepped closer, if only to relieve some of the suffocating tension threatening to choke me. When her eyes darted away, breaking our connection, I inhaled a shaky breath.

My heart pounded, and sweat coated my brow as I realized what was happening.

The woman was my mate.

And she had her delicate little fingers wrapped around the forearm of another man.

I clenched my jaw so hard that I was surprised I didn’t crack a tooth.

“What’s wrong?” Malesh asked, sensing the shift.

“You see that woman over there?” I said, nodding in her direction.

“Yes.”

“She’s coming with us.”

Malesh’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline before he and Eamon shared a look.

However, they both knew better than to question my orders.

“And be quick about it before her companion loses his head.”

Without another look in her direction, I stalked away, eager for the moment I could lay my hands on my little mate.