Page 86 of Fae's Consort

“Let go!” I struggle and kick, but his hold is like stone. There’s no give, no escape. “Stop!”

“Release her!” Solano shines brightly beneath us, the glow almost painful.

Eraldon holds me at arm’s length and flicks his gaze to the mark at my shoulder. “The day king’s mate?” He flaps his wings, carrying us higher. “This nightling peasant is yourmate?” he calls.

“Emma!” Solano cries, his voice frighteningly distant now.

“That’s impossible.” He licks my cheek, then spits. “Definitely mortal.”

“Solano is going to kill you, slowly this time.” My voice doesn’t waver as I look into his cruel eyes, but my insides are churning, my heart breaking as Solano roars beneath me, pain and rage in the sound.

Eraldon’s claws dig into my sides as I try to fight, and he glances down. “His warriors are coming.” His black gaze searches my face. “But my dance card is full, it would seem. Now that I have you, I don’t need any of them.”

A cyclone of rough wind forms beside us, dark magic creeping up the funnel.

He doesn’t even look at it. “They don’t know true magic. Not like I do.” Leaning closer, he whispers in my ear. “Not like you will.”

“Get off!” I scream as my hair starts to whip, the cyclone moving closer, the darkness inside expanding.

“I was going to drop you. For fun.” His gaze flickers to my claiming mark again. “But now you’ve given me a better idea.” He smiles, baring his teeth. “Thank you, my lady.”

I scream, terror ripping through my mind as he sinks his fangs into my throat, poisoning my life and cursing my soul. My cry dies away as he flaps harder, carrying us higher into the sunny sky as my vision goes black and my heart stutters, then stops.

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