Page 120 of The Fallen Fae King

Now, I clutch the guttering oil lamp, which casts jumping shadows around me.

May the Shadow Gods have protected my Alpha even in a place like this.

Was Lanlin’s willingness to sacrifice himself for the realms enough? Or have the gods abandoned us?

I tighten my hold on the tray.

Prayers alone won’t save us. We need to save ourselves.

My heart beats faster, as I pad down the final step onto the damp floor. My breath ghosts in front of me in the freezing cold. My skin goosebumps.

I approach the cell, which is isolated by itself in the pitch black. It is empty of anything — no bed, straw, or even blanket.

Something…someone…is lying in the back corner.

I raise the lamp higher. “Lanlin…?”

Then I freeze.

That can’t be my Shadow Vampire King.

On the moon, it can’t be.

My hands tremble, and in my shock, I almost drop the tray. The blood slops onto the soft loaf, soaking into it.

I hiss out a breath.

Lanlin is facing the wall. He is shivering, curled as tightly into a ball as he can around himself with his arms wrapped around his middle. He doesn’t even move.

His bare back, which is revealed through a tattered leather uniform of golden leather is a mess of welts and blood. In fact, every patch of bare skin is a colorful map of bruises in shades of green, purple, and black.

I clench my jaw in fury.

It’s lucky that Daire didn’t come instead of me, or he’d likely assassinate everyone who had left those marks on principle.

Why isn’t Lanlin turning around to me? Why is he scratching at the wall with his claws?

Is he feral?

“This time, I have even imagined the heart beating in your chest, my sunshine. I hear it thud, thud, thud. Why so fast? Do you fear what I have become? Or are you scared of the guards?” Lanlin rasps like he is hoarse from screaming. “This bond sickness is cruel to create such realistic daydreams. On my fangs, I can even smell Daire’s blood.”

He curls even tighter around himself. His shoulders shake. He still doesn’t look around at me.

He doesn’t believe that I am real.

My eyes prick with tears.

I had no idea that being separated from me would mess with Lanlin’s mind this much.

Did Aurelius know?

After all, my dragon survived being parted for months…or did it actually wreck him in ways that he has hidden from me?

What does he mean by bond sickness? Is that what’s causing his delirium? His hallucinations?

How dangerous is a killer vampire who is lost in this madness?

My throat is dry, as I carefully approach the cell. “I’m truly here. Didn’t you expect that I would find a way to sneak down to you? That’s the type of wolf I am, yeah? Want to see what I brought for your dinner?”