Page 3 of Heir of Broken Souls

“Fae who don’t know how to fly tumble off cliffs and die,” the hound with the healing neck drawls.

That’s a first.

With the order to keep me alive, they never do any real harm, but the vengeance pooling in their dark eyes has me stepping backwards. They sniff the air, smirks dancing along their leathery faces.

“That is what we drink, child.Fear. And we have been waiting months to taste it from your blood.”

Wind suddenly encases the small cave, shadows plunging it into darkness. I would know this magic even with my eyes closed. It is everything the hounds are not. It is pure, it is kind, and it is wise.

The hounds move to launch across the space, that order to leave me unharmed suddenly forgotten in their haste to kill me before what’s to come, but they’re too late.

“Lucky for me, I’m not a mindless sheep controlled by a raging lunatic.” The voice drops several octaves as he purrs, “And I have no orders to keep you alive.”

The hounds whirl as a tall, menacing Fae warrior, strapped with blades and steel, steps through the darkness of his own shadows, with such a wicked smile my heart soars.

“Do give Peter my love,” Knox says a moment before he swings his blade.

The hounds’ heads fly, black blood spraying the cave and dousing the flames, plunging Knox and me into utter darkness. A hand lands on my arm, making me jump before I realize the warmth of the hand has my heart settling.

“Shh,” Knox eases. “It’s just me.”

“Took your time,” I can’t help but quip.

Knox brushes his hands over the back of my neck, a blue light flaring to life in the cave, illuminating the hounds’ bodies as they begin to twitch. I frown despite the relief flooding my body as Knox heals me.

“A thank you will suffice,” he says, ignoring my jab.

I scoff, but mumble under my breath, “Thank you.”

“Oh, how noble of you,” Knox coos, moving his healing light to my back. He quickly wraps an arm around my waist as the pain leaving me makes my knees buckle. “I must say, that’s one of the sincerest apologies I’ve ever received.”

I snort and elbow him. “Don’t be sarcastic, it doesn’t look good on you.”

“I thought that was part of the charm that made you fall for me.”

“That and your confidence. Do tell me, how does it feel to be so full of yourself?”

Now it’s Knox’s turn to snort as the blue light fades. “Feels fantastic,” he says dryly as he clicks his fingers, igniting the fire again. “How are you feeling? It took me longer to track you this time. This cave system is endless.”

“Where did they take me this time?”

“The aerial island.”

My eyes widen and I whisper, “Is it still occupied by the Phookas?”

“Most likely,” Knox says, but he doesn’t seem to care much for the danger lurking within the tunnels. Instead, he bends and drags a twitching hound into the fire.

I cup my hand over my mouth, coughing and sputtering at the rancid smell. “They’re stirring faster than normal,” I point out, the demonic creatures already beginning the somewhat lengthy process of reincarnating from whatever world they return to after dying in Aloriah.

“The king must have been watching somehow to summon them so quickly.”

I shake my head, remembering what the hounds said as I roused. “He’s not near here. The hounds mentioned he’s hiding at the treehouse.”

Knox stumbles to a stop, whipping his head to me. “And you only think to tell me this now?”

“I was a little preoccupied,” I deadpan.

Knox hums, already moving past his annoyance that I didn’t tell him sooner. “Why the treehouse?” he muses.