Page 51 of Night Fae

"What the—Zev! STOP!"

The shout barely registered until hands clamped around Zev's shoulders, ripping him away from Malik with such force that Zev was thrown backward.

A feral snarl tore from Zev's throat. How dare someone interrupt his feeding?

Incubus. It was a fucking incubus.

He launched himself at the intruder, darkness gathering around his hands. His vision tunneled, focused only on the threat, on eliminating whatever had come between him and his meal.

His attack connected with solid muscle. The figure blocked Zev's strike, staring at him with golden eyes that seemed vaguely familiar.

"Zev! It's me!" The voice cut through the haze of bloodlust. "What iswrongwith you?"

Zev froze with his blade in mid-air.

This was Knox.

He'd been about to attack Knox.

"Have you lost your mind?" Knox demanded. "You were killing him!"

Reality crashed back into Zev. The heady rush of power faltered as he looked past Knox to where Malik lay motionless on the floor, skin ashen, lips parted but barely drawing breath.

What had he done?

"I didn't—" Zev's voice died in his throat. He had. He'd fed on Malik like a starving animal. Would have drained him completely if Knox hadn't intervened.

"Fuck." Knox dropped to his knees beside Malik, pressing fingers to the human's throat. "He's alive, but weak."

The chamber around them came into focus as Zev's power-drunk vision cleared. Black crystal walls curved upward into a dome, etched with silver symbols. Torchlight cast long shadows across polished stone floors.

They weren't in the Night Court territory anymore.

"Where—?" Zev managed.

"The Shadow Kingdom." Knox gathered Malik gently into his arms, shooting Zev a wary look.

It made sense. This was where the shadow paths converged.

The Shadow Kingdom was not Zev's favorite place, but at least they were out of reach of the Night Court.

At what cost, though?

Zev couldn't tear his eyes from Malik's limp form. The human looked so small, so fragile in Knox's arms.

"I need to get him to a healer." Knox stepped back as Zev moved toward them. "And you need to stay away from him until you get yourself under control."

CHAPTER 11

Zev stood frozen in the chamber where the shadow path had spit him out, Knox's words echoing in his mind. Knox had told him to stay away from Malik.

And he was right too.

Zev had lost control. He still didn't have it back. The remnants of power sparked beneath his skin, wanting to be used, wanting to feed again.

Zev shuddered.

He'd let himself turn into a monster.