Page 78 of Rebellious Royals

He looked up. Fae-blue eyes hit mine, and I knew I had him. My mind took control of his, halting his movement. The attacker's body jerked as if fighting him, and I grabbed him by the throat before slinging him to the ground.

He bounced, then tried to get up.

I couldn't kill him. I wanted to, but I couldn't - and I repeated that over and over in my mind as I grabbed him and pushed again. This time, I heard his head crack and the fool's eyes rolled up in his head. He wouldn't be attacking me from behind now.

So I spun to the other, impressed to see him backed into a corner by Shadow and Wilder's conjurations. The walls had grabbed onto his arms and legs. Darkness was wrapped around his neck. Something shimmered between us, a hint of iridescence proving it wasn't my imagination.

"This is why you do not play with monsters," I told the captive as I moved closer.

Oh, I could rip him apart so easily now. No. Wilder didn't want me to. But Icould.The sound of his joints popping as I pulled them apart would be wonderful. Seeing him whimper as I made him regret ever coming for my lover? No. That wouldn't make it easy to interrogate him. The desires pulled at me as I closed the distance, imagining all the ways I could make this faeling hurt.

But Shadow thrust a hand out, holding me off - and something banged on the door.

"Shadow…" I growled, because I wanted that man.

"Open the fucking door!" Torian yelled from the other side.

"Or I'll break it down!" Bracken added, proving he was there as well.

Confused, I looked over at Wilder. He was perched on his knees, still on the mattress, with the blankets lumped up in front of him for modesty or warmth. A guy was sprawled on the floor between us, and the other between me and the door. The third guy was now whimpering, mist by his mouth proving he was breathing hard, and I was pretty sure tears ran down his eyes as he shook his head. It looked like he was begging Shadow not to hurt him.

"Wilder!" Torian yelled again.

"Let them in," I said, knowing it would end my hunt.

"You're naked!" Wilder reminded me.

"Don't care."

That was all Wilder needed. A glance released the layer of ice. Immediately, I heard the lock click, and Torian was shoving through it before the ice was all the way thawed. Bracken was right on his heels, an impressive sword in his hand.

And behind them came Keir and the girls, tromping over the ice that had fallen from the mostly thawed door. Keir immediately headed for me and Wilder. Aspen rushed in right after, slinging a hand out as she did something. I wasn't sure what. Rain came last, and stopped hard.

"What the hell?" I asked, whipping my head around to see everyone.

I hadn't exactly expected my romantic night with my boyfriend to end up this wild! But while I looked, Torian secured one guy. Bracken headed to the one still standing. When I checked on the second guy I'd dropped, I found he was held down with ice, and beside him, Rain was looking at me - right about dick level - with a brow up.

"It's fucking cold!" I snapped.

So she flicked her hand.

Shadows sprang up around her fingers, beside me, and over by Wilder. The ones by me formed around my legs and hips, becoming shadow-pants. I could only guess Wilder was getting the same thing. Then she turned for the guy on the ground.

"Ms. Rhodes is coming," she warned me - well, us.

"We all got woken up," Torian explained, his voice that soothing calm I needed. "Aspen and I thought it would be a good idea to get teachers."

"And you were clearly right," Keir agreed.

Which was when Shadow finally stepped back, allowing Bracken to take over. Yet as Shadow moved, the sound of theguy's sobs leaked in, as if a sound-proof door had just been opened.

"Jevadu!" he whimpered, blubbering more that I couldn't make out. There was a whole litany of something that sounded almost like begging.

"What? Scared now?" I asked, moving toward him.

Torian pressed his palm into my chest, gently holding me back. "Hawke?" he asked.

"They wanted Wilder," I snarled, turning my eyes to his.