Page 63 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

His hungry eyes narrow in on my mouth and I tense.

“You can’t hear my blood.That’swhat you meant.”

Gulping, I remain silent.Fuck.

Not only does he know me, know my magic and how little I can control it, he knows my only defense doesn’t work on him.

Stupid little blood summoner.

“Don’t worry, pet,” he says, winking. “I keep my secrets close to the heart.”

Swallowing, I cock an eyebrow, trying to appear unaffected. A losing battle, but still. “And now that you have mine, what will you do with them?”

He’s threaten to tell the king of me. Now that he knows I cannot use my magic on him, will he also hold this over my head?

“Ah, because I am a Dark Fae, I must be a dastardly villain, who will surely use these secrets to harm you?” He smirks as my throat bobs, dread dropping like a stone in my gut. “Can’t I merely keep them? Another being who shoulders your burdens? Perhaps, hold them close so as to know the woman behind the magic?”

I snort loudly.Doubtful.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like me knowing things about you?”

Shoving against his chest, he doesn’t let me go. “No. I don’t.”

He tilts his head, amber vanishing under his magic. “Too late.”

Grabbing my arm, he pulls me close, pulling the shirt from my neck.“You’re bleeding,” he points out, fangs growing.

Touching my damp shoulder, my fingers comes back stained red. The knock into the tree must have pulled open the wound.

“Dammit,” I curse, looking up into his dark eyes. “Tay wasn’t able to finish healing all of it.”

“And this?” He pulls on the fabric, sneering. “Is this his shirt?”

“And if it is?”

Shoving me away, his lips twist into a snarl, body appearing larger as if possessed. His nostrils flare and his chest inhaled. “You smell like him. His scent covers you.”

What an odd thing to say.

Without warning, he shoves me sharply as my heelscatches on a rock and I fall back. Only a tree trunk stops me from completely collapsing into the dirt.

“Get back to camp, kitten. The Skrulls were just one creature in this fucking forest, looking for little things to eat. Likeyou.” It’s acidic and cutting, making me wince as if blood was drawn.

Where’s the Fae from earlier? What’s changed to make him so cruel?

“I think we both know I’ll be fine.”

“We’ve established you’re aliability.” I wince, his words opening up newly scabbed wounds. “I don’t feel like playing hero right now. It’s a bad look for me.” He dismisses me turning back to the forest.

“What happened to not being the dastardly villain?” I pull myself upright, shoulder throbbing as blood drips into the crook of my elbow.

“I never said I wasn’t,” he clarifies.

Cursing him under my breath, I take a step toward the exit, only for him to call me back.

“Oh and pet?” he drawls as the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge. “There are more dangerous things in the woods thanme. I suggest you take heed and stop following me around. Wouldn’t want you gettinghurt.”

Growling, I shove through the bushes, the warmth blooming for the heir vanishing with each step. It’s a good thing too.