Page 27

EMBER

M y skin prickled as I watched Drake comb my condo for clues. To say it felt weird to see him, not only in the human realm but in my personal sanctuary, was an understatement of the millennium.

I felt exposed as if this male were peeling back every layer of my skin as he picked up a photograph on the fireplace mantle. The photo was of Melodina and me at DisneyWorld for her fourth birthday. In it, her smile beamed for the whole world to see.

My gut clenched. I felt my eyes burn and quickly blinked back the tears. My little girl was so full of life, and now…

Oh, stars, please let her be alive…

Drake set the photo down and slid me a glare. “It appears as if the two of you have been enjoying yourselves,” Drake said, gesturing with a hand to the many photos that lined the mantle .

My hair bristled. “Yes, we have,” I said, my voice dripping with hostility. “Now, have you picked up any clues or not?”

Drake looked away and continued to walk slowly through the living room. “Don’t rush me,” he said, his tone laced with the authority belonging to a king.

My upper lip curled back to expose my fangs. “Maybe I wouldn’t rush you if you weren’t taking time to browse through family photos.”

Drake’s withering glare was menacing enough that it would surely strike fear into the hearts of any who looked upon him.

I was immune. Drake then stepped into the long foyer, and I trailed after him.

I watched him intently as his eyes snagged to the blood smears that stained the wall leading out to the front door—at the small crimson handprint.

A spark of rage ignited in his amethyst eyes, the bright color leeching out from the corners of his eyes like tongues of flame.

His talons sliced out under the tumultuous emotions.

I took an inhale of the air around me. The sharp bite of rage and the tart stench of worry permeated the air. A soft gasp escaped my lips.

Drake…is worried about his daughter…angry that she was taken…but how can he care for a child he’s never laid eyes on?

My inner wolf cocked her head as she studied our fated mate.

Drake seemed to struggle with tearing his gaze from the blood smear, but he did so, choosing to stalk back into the living room.

He dropped to a knee and rubbed his fingers along the dried blood stains where Thelma’s body had lain.

He drew his fingers to his nose and sniffed the residue.

A snarl tore from his throat, and I flinched at the ferocity of it.

Drake pushed to his feet and whirled to face me. “A shadow fae helped kidnap Melodina,” he growled .

My brows rose. “One of your people was working with the summer fae?”

Drake’s eyes narrowed to thin slits. “She’s no longer my people.”

I blinked. “Who is she?”

Drake’s gaze skated away from mine. “Rosalana.”

My lungs seized, and I backed up till my back hit the wall. Shock burst within my insides as if shrapnel tore through me. “Y-your…lover took my daughter?”

“She’s not my lover,” Drake hissed. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as if seeking calmness and patience. And that thought caused the ball of anger that festered inside me to rupture.

My claws sliced out, and I bared my fangs at Drake. “Love or not, I will kill her for taking my child,” I vowed darkly.

Drake held my gaze with unwavering focus. “Get in line,” he said, his voice deathly calm.

My breath hitched at that. I blinked rapidly. Wait…is he saying that he wants to kill Rosalana as well?

My mind spun. It didn’t make sense that Drake would be willing to kill his former lover. Imprison her, yes, but murder…

My mind snapped back to the present as I caught sight of Drake stalking toward the front door. I hurried to chase after him.

“Wait!” I called after him. “Where are you going?”

“To the summer fae realm,” Drake said, not stopping.

“Then I’m going with you. ”

That stopped Drake in his tracks. He slowly faced me, a brow arched. “And how do you suppose you’ll enter the summer fae realm.” He crossed his arms. “Werewolves are forbidden.”

I sliced the air with my arm. “I don’t give a damn whether I’m welcome or not; I’m going after my daughter.”

Drake held up one finger. “Firstly, it's our daughter,” he said. A low growl rumbled from my chest. “And secondly,” he said, holding up another finger, “They’ll kill you before you even get within twenty clicks of the palace.”

I fisted my hands, my inner wolf snarling. But I knew Drake had a point. I felt my body tremble under the riptide of frustration and sadness that threatened to drag me under.

I can’t lose my daughter; I just can’t!

Tears pricked my lashes and spilled over against my will. I slammed my eyelids shut against the raw pain that stabbed at my chest. Then, a palm cupped my cheek. My eyelids snapped wide open. My mouth parted as I stared into Drake’s eyes, his face so close, his nose was a hair’s breadth from mine.

The pad of his thumb caught a stray tear. His features twisted to one resembling pain. “Don’t cry,” he whispered.

A soft exhale breezed from my lips. My brows rose.

“I need to cloak your werewolf scent if you’re to go to the summer fae realm,” Drake told me.

My brow creased. “How will you do that?”

Drake’s other hand came up to cup my other cheek—his hands framing both sides of my face.

Before I had time to question what he was doing, he dipped his head and took my lips in a scalding kiss that I felt all the way to my toes.

His tongue brushed my bottom lip, and I gasped.

Seizing the opportunity, Drake thrust his tongue inside, the wet heat of him tangling with my tongue in a sensual caress that caused my sex to become slick.

I clenched my thighs as my arousal surfaced like a voracious beast—hot and needy.

I placed my hands on his shoulders and tried to push him off but to no avail.

His fingers dug into the sides of my head as he angled my head for better access.

I struggled for a few more moments, but then his tongue thrust in and out of my mouth, picking up a rhythm that brought back memories of our night together, how he’d slid inside me in one fluid motion.

I moaned as I tasted him, spiced rum and cedar musk with a hint of cinnamon heat.

And I caved. I relented to him like the waves relented to the pull of the moon.

My fingers dug into his shoulders and pulled at the fabric of his tunic to bring him closer to me. Impossibly closer. My tongue lapped at his, curling around his as I sucked him in. A dark growl rumbled from his chest that reminded me of a wildcat purring.

His incisors nipped at my bottom lip as he slowly pulled away, then his tongue peeked out to lap away the hurt.

Then he withdrew. I gasped in a mouthful of air; my lungs starved for oxygen.

My chest heaved with labored breaths. Drake’s eyes were hooded with lust; his nostrils flared as he caught the scent of my arousal that lay thick in the air.

My eyes roved over the length of him. His chest barely rose and fell, his breathing more even than mine.

He seemed to have some clarity, while my mind was a scrambled puzzle I was desperate to piece back together.

Seeing how unaffected he seemed to be by our kiss caused a seed of anger to sprout within me .

“You smell like me now,” Drake said, his voice a low purr. “The scent of shadow fae will mask your werewolf scent.”

My gaze dropped to my hands fisted in his tunic. Snarling in disgust, I pushed off him, backing up to allow myself precious space. Drake cocked his head, watching me with an unreadable expression.

My inner wolf dropped to her belly, lifting her tail and preening for Drake.

Get it together, dammit, I growled at my inner wolf.

Disgust crawled up my throat like bile at how my lower abdomen clenched, how my body responded to Drake—despite all the years that had passed.

My body betrayed me, turned on like a damn light bulb, and Drake could so easily flip my switch.

I knew it was necessary to hide my scent, but I hated how willingly I gave into him and moaned for him.

I wasn’t an idiot. I could feel the small ball of emotions deep within my core stirring old feelings reawakening with one kiss. And at that moment, I felt true fear being in Drake’s presence.