Page 15 of Hell Fae King

Then froze at the nightmarish ball of black energy swirling before me. Not a Source, but… butfae.

Their auras matched the obsidian floor, their angry growls causing the hairs along my arms to stand on end.

“Rude,” someone muttered as a sword appeared, one that flickered with golden flames.

My lips parted as the weapon sliced through the air, gliding through the dark auras.

A trio of corpses fell to the ground, the energy swarm ceasing instantly and allowing me to see Az’s sprawled form.

I gasped and ran for him, only for the sword wielder to step into my path. “Plink.”

“What?” I breathed, not understanding that word.

“He’s talking to me,” a voice hissed from right behind me.

I whirled toward the newcomer, only to be halted with an arm around my waist. A broad chest met my back for a brief moment before I went spinning through the air.

“You’re ruining all my fun, Ghost,” the newcomer—Plink?—growled.

“And what fun is that?” the sword-wielding male replied, sounding bored. “Trying to kill the Hell Fae Commander? Or playing with his mate?”

“Both,” Plink snarled, his protruding jaw turning black to resemble ash.

Zombie, I thought in the next breath, gasping as his humanoid form took on the picture of death.

I wasn’t sure if it had been his hands on me or the one called Ghost. Right now, I hoped it was the latter.

Because it seemed Plink possessed dark magic, the kind thatkilled. Or that was how I interpreted the wisps of gray smoke swirling out from his blackened fingertips.

Ghost didn’t appear to be all that concerned, though.

He sheathed his sword and pulled out a dagger instead. “All right, Plink. Let’s dance.”

I jumped backward as the two men blurred into a deadly fog, their energy a chilling presence that shot ice through my veins.

Another presence soon joined them, causing my jaw to clench. I couldn’t see them so much as feel them, their auras riddled with malicious intent.

More are coming,my instincts told me.So many more…

A frigid breeze caressed my being, reminding me that all I wore was a short silky robe.

But a glance toward Az had me forgetting everything and focusing entirely on him.

He wasn’t moving.

Why isn’t he moving?

Maybe a minute or two had passed since my arrival, yet it felt like much longer.

He should be moving…

I skirted along the edge of the room, the obsidian booths to my left and the open floor to my right. Ghost’s sword was out again, the power flashing through the air as he fought the incoming horde of black spirits.

There are too many of them, I thought, my heart in my throat.

And I had no idea who thisGhosttruly was.Friend or foe?

With the way he was protecting Az, I guessed the former. But that wasn’t a guarantee.