Page 24

Cadence

I fled toward the balcony, desperate to put as much distance between us as possible. He had the uncanny ability to set my world on fire before casually waltzing out, stomping on the ashes he left behind.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, needing to regain control of my emotions. It wasn’t as though I cared for Ryker. He’d kidnapped me from my home and refused to let me go, despite how much I begged and pleaded.

The man had collared me like some fucking pet for the gods’ sake.

I didn’t care about Ryker; I hated him.

Then why did my heart splinter at the reminder of his fiancée?

Could it be the bond pulling me to him?

I chastised myself for even entertaining the thought. There was no bond. Ryker was not my mate. He was an entitled asshole who took what he wanted whenever he pleased. I couldn’t lose sight of what was at stake. The man would kill me if he knew the real me.

The door creaked open behind me, and I stiffened, not yet ready for the confrontation I was certain Ryker was preparing to unleash.

I’d hoped for a moment of peace, a brief escape from the suffocating reality that had become my life.

I exhaled a resigned sigh and turned toward my nemesis. Only it wasn’t Ryker’s gorgeous face that awaited me.

Eight Fae males stepped onto the balcony, each moving with a calculated ease as they formed a loose circle around me. They were an imposing wall of amused grins and curious gazes.

A gentle breeze lifted the hem of my gown, the soft fabric flowing around my ankles, as if in reassurance. But it did nothing to alleviate the sweat beading on the back of my neck.

Dressed in their finery, the men exuded confidence and grace. But there was a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach that warned me whatever their intentions were, I’d only find trouble.

One man stepped forward. He was tall, with dark hair and a mischievous glint in his eye that lacked the warmth Riordan so often emitted. The man leaned against the railing, never taking his gaze off me as he assessed me with a lazy charm. When his eyes returned to mine, a wolfish grin spread over his face.

“A woman as beautiful as you and I don’t even know your name.”

The man was arrogant enough to expect an answer.

Another man stepped forward. He was shorter than the first, and his smile was playful, almost flirtatious. But he stared at me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

“You didn’t think your absence would go unnoticed, did you?”

The two men exchanged a predatory grin, and their companions chuckled behind them.

A third man watched me from a distance as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. He stayed silent, his lips curved in a smirk as if daring me to play a game where only he knew the rules.

“What’s a lovely woman like you doing out here all alone?” another man asked, drawing my attention.

I stepped back, and the cool metal of the banister pressed into the base of my spine.

The first man leered at me, his pleasure in my discomfort gleaming in the dark depths of his eyes.

A fourth man, perhaps the least threatening one of the group, stuffed his hands into his pockets as he turned his head slightly to observe me.

Cursing my cowardice, I straightened and adopted a relaxed aura as I allowed a small smile to play on my lips. Underneath the surface of my calm veneer, a raging inferno was burning as I calculated the best way to extricate myself from the situation.

“I’m still waiting.”

“How presumptuous of you.”

Laughter burst from the group, and the first man’s face flushed crimson.

Despite my discomfort, a small thrill coursed through me as I matched their audacity with my poise.

“She’s too smart to be overcome by your charms, Lucas,” a fifth man chuckled as he slapped his friend on the shoulder.

“And what are you gallant men hoping to achieve by following me out here?”

Surprised laughter broke out at my forwardness, but I didn’t miss the hint of aggression present in the sound.

The first man leaned into my space, and I pulled my magic to me, ready to defend myself should the need arise. His hand darted forward as he wrapped a lock of my hair around his finger.

“We are only here to ensure that you enjoy your night, My Lady,” he murmured.

Then his lips were on me, and he was pushing his tongue into my mouth. I struggled against him, but he wasn’t having it. He thrust his tongue deeper as he cupped the back of my head, holding me in place.

I sank my teeth into his bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood, and he released me. The metallic taste coated my taste buds, and I recoiled as I spat the vile substance on the ground.

“Fucking bitch!” he gasped as he raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

As if his strike somehow gave the rest of them permission, the men descended on me in unison.

Hands reached for me, groping me above my dress. Whenever I pushed one away, more appeared to take its place.

“No need for that,” one man cooed as I slapped his arm. “We only want to show you a good time.”

“Let me go!”

“Your struggle is only making my dick harder,” another man preened. “I bet your cunt tastes all the sweeter because of it.”

A hand slipped underneath the neckline of my dress, and a rough palm squeezed my breast.

Closing my eyes, I sent a silent apology to my mother for what I was about to do next.

Before I could unleash my magic, a low growl rumbled behind the group, and tension drained from my body before I could think better of it.

The night deepened into an unnatural black, and the stars vanished from the sky.

Cool air kissed my exposed flesh as I felt the weight of the man in front of me being violently torn away.

A snarl shattered the stillness, followed by a bloodcurdling scream.

Panicked cries erupted all around me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see through the mass of darkness engulfing me.

A tearing sound assaulted my ears, only to be replaced by a wet gurgling noise.

Terrified screams and groans of pain filled the night, and it sounded like the men were being ripped apart by a feral beast driven by animalistic bloodlust.

A small whimper sliced through the haunting sounds before everything fell silent once more.

The darkness ebbed, and light flooded my senses. The scene that greeted me had me turning toward the railing and expelling the contents of my stomach.

Butchered and mutilated bodies littered the marble floor of the balcony, and rivers of blood flowed over the edge.

All eight men lay before me, dead.

Not just dead.

Torn apart.

Obliterated.

Hardly recognizable as human.

A high-pitched scream erupted from inside the ballroom, but I scarcely heard it.

My gaze swept over the massacre before my eyes settled on Ryker.

He stood among the carnage, covered from head to toe in blood. Shadows snaked around his hands, awaiting their next command, and enormous, black wings extended from his back.

When I locked my gaze with his, a gasp slipped between my lips. Ryker’s eyes were obsidian, no trace of his steel-grey irises peeked through.

That wasn’t what drew the gasp from my throat, however.

Elongated fangs protruded from his gums, sharp and glistening with blood. Suddenly, the feral, animalistic sounds I had heard earlier made perfect sense.

“What are you?” I breathed, unable to tear my gaze away.

Ryker strode toward me, not caring about the pulverized remains he was treading through. When I was within reaching distance, his hand darted out, and he collared my throat with his large palm.

“Mine,” he growled.

Then his lips slammed against my own, and darkness swallowed me whole.