to make eye contact, even though his form appeared to be mere shadows with no clearly delineated features. Power, immense and overwhelming, radiated from him.
“So you traded her for your debt?” the silky voice purred. The underlying menace in the dulcet tones shivered across her shoulder blades.
“That was what he wanted.”
“And while you were locked away in the dungeon, where did your delectable wife reside?”
Her husband pffted. “With him.”
“So she spent three full nights with a Demon?” The being cocked his head, as if analyzing her, trying to see deep into her soul.
A sick feeling gurgled in her stomach as she finally put the pieces together. This creature was Fae. Her husband had made a deal with the Fae.
When the Fae turned his attention to her, instinctively Amara blocked her thoughts. He wanted information about Vetis. She would go to her grave before she would betray the Demon who had returned her soul.
The shadow laughed softly. The sound grated over her nerves like the screech of ill-oiled machinery.
“Ah, how amusing, she thinks to protect him.”
“Do I get my reward now?” Edward was still trying to make bad bargains as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
“I don’t believe you did what we discussed.”
“I thought--”
“I didn’t ask you to think, now did I?”
Her husband blinked.
“I need information about their lair, their living arrangements, where they store their magick energy. We must prepare for war . I need her.”
In a slow hypnotic move, the Fae reached across the scarred table with an abnormally white, pampered hand.
***
“Amara is in trouble.” Vetis sprinted toward the pub.
“How do you know?”
He ran with purpose to the tavern door that seemed further and further away the faster he ran. “I can sense it.”
Zepar kept pace beside him. “We should assess the situation before going inside.”
“Screw that.” He shoved through the suddenly crowded streets, launching mortals out of his way to get to her. Vetis banged open the pub door, dismissed the group of old men by the fire and focused on the trio in the shadows.
The Fae was here. With Amara. With her husband.
“What if she’s involved?” Zepar curled his fingers around Vetis’s bicep.
“Not a chance.” Vetis didn’t even hesitate as he shook off Zepar’s hold. No way was Amara consorting with the Fae.
Tendrils of magick sparkled in a visible line from the Fae’s fingertips to Amara’s head.
With a battle cry, he unsheathed his sword and roared to Amara’s rescue. He charged toward his sworn enemy ready to defend her to the death.
But before he reached the table, the shadow disappeared. All that remained was a pile of clothing draped haphazardly over the chair.
“No.” The husband cried and grabbed for the specter of the Fae. “What about my money?”
On the off chance the Fae still lingered, Vetis knew Zepar had his back, but he could sense no glimmer left. He held his sword at the ready, searching for any sign of the Fae’s presence, ready to defend her. Not like that worthless husband of hers.
“Are you okay?” He rasped and chanced a look at Amara.
She had shoved the chair back, stood proud and true even as she trembled. “What-what are you doing here?” He’d take that as a yes.
A stunned shock blanketed her face. Even her thoughts were fuzzy as if she’d been blocking them from the Fae. He grinned. Good girl.
Zepar came up beside him with stealth. “Gone.”
Gods damn it.
A commotion arose from the other occupied table, and one of the old men, with a silver dagger gripped in his fist, charged the husband. “No one tells.”
He lifted the dagger above his head, then stabbed the knife down toward the husband’s chest.
Zepar casually knocked the old man over.
“My thanks,” Edward, the stupid fool grinned, wiping the sweat from his grimy face.
“We need you alive to answer our questions.” Vetis snarled at the idiot. To Amara he said, “we
“So you traded her for your debt?” the silky voice purred. The underlying menace in the dulcet tones shivered across her shoulder blades.
“That was what he wanted.”
“And while you were locked away in the dungeon, where did your delectable wife reside?”
Her husband pffted. “With him.”
“So she spent three full nights with a Demon?” The being cocked his head, as if analyzing her, trying to see deep into her soul.
A sick feeling gurgled in her stomach as she finally put the pieces together. This creature was Fae. Her husband had made a deal with the Fae.
When the Fae turned his attention to her, instinctively Amara blocked her thoughts. He wanted information about Vetis. She would go to her grave before she would betray the Demon who had returned her soul.
The shadow laughed softly. The sound grated over her nerves like the screech of ill-oiled machinery.
“Ah, how amusing, she thinks to protect him.”
“Do I get my reward now?” Edward was still trying to make bad bargains as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
“I don’t believe you did what we discussed.”
“I thought--”
“I didn’t ask you to think, now did I?”
Her husband blinked.
“I need information about their lair, their living arrangements, where they store their magick energy. We must prepare for war . I need her.”
In a slow hypnotic move, the Fae reached across the scarred table with an abnormally white, pampered hand.
***
“Amara is in trouble.” Vetis sprinted toward the pub.
“How do you know?”
He ran with purpose to the tavern door that seemed further and further away the faster he ran. “I can sense it.”
Zepar kept pace beside him. “We should assess the situation before going inside.”
“Screw that.” He shoved through the suddenly crowded streets, launching mortals out of his way to get to her. Vetis banged open the pub door, dismissed the group of old men by the fire and focused on the trio in the shadows.
The Fae was here. With Amara. With her husband.
“What if she’s involved?” Zepar curled his fingers around Vetis’s bicep.
“Not a chance.” Vetis didn’t even hesitate as he shook off Zepar’s hold. No way was Amara consorting with the Fae.
Tendrils of magick sparkled in a visible line from the Fae’s fingertips to Amara’s head.
With a battle cry, he unsheathed his sword and roared to Amara’s rescue. He charged toward his sworn enemy ready to defend her to the death.
But before he reached the table, the shadow disappeared. All that remained was a pile of clothing draped haphazardly over the chair.
“No.” The husband cried and grabbed for the specter of the Fae. “What about my money?”
On the off chance the Fae still lingered, Vetis knew Zepar had his back, but he could sense no glimmer left. He held his sword at the ready, searching for any sign of the Fae’s presence, ready to defend her. Not like that worthless husband of hers.
“Are you okay?” He rasped and chanced a look at Amara.
She had shoved the chair back, stood proud and true even as she trembled. “What-what are you doing here?” He’d take that as a yes.
A stunned shock blanketed her face. Even her thoughts were fuzzy as if she’d been blocking them from the Fae. He grinned. Good girl.
Zepar came up beside him with stealth. “Gone.”
Gods damn it.
A commotion arose from the other occupied table, and one of the old men, with a silver dagger gripped in his fist, charged the husband. “No one tells.”
He lifted the dagger above his head, then stabbed the knife down toward the husband’s chest.
Zepar casually knocked the old man over.
“My thanks,” Edward, the stupid fool grinned, wiping the sweat from his grimy face.
“We need you alive to answer our questions.” Vetis snarled at the idiot. To Amara he said, “we
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