Page 16 of The Fallen Fae King

I can’t deny it.

Fae are tricksters. It’s one of our best talents.

Is it my fault that Lanlin has been isolated here as an outcast, vulnerable to the first people to offer him friendship, apart from his animals?

I swallow, as he raises his hand from my mouth. “Kill me then. Or do you plan to bore me to death?”

He punches me in the gut again.

“I’m into rough play as much as the next fae,” I wheeze. “But why don’t we move this to our nest?”

He punches me again.

“I should have let the guests watch.” Lanlin is shaking. He lets go of my chin. “They saw me enter with you on my arm as my honored consort. They know that you have made a fool of me.”

“Bondage and blood play, and now you want to add exhibitionism. Kinky.”

This time, he doesn’t hit me.

Instead, he cocks his head. “You’re still wearing a mask. Do you ever take it off?”

Uncomfortable, I drop my gaze. “Why would I? Doesn’t everyone wear one to protect themselves?”

“I didn’t with you. I allowed you to hold my hand in the sun, trusting you to keep me safe from burning because I hoped…finally…I had found the sunshine in my dark world.” The confession sounds painful. “But you hid your identity from me. I don’t know you. You’re a stranger.”

Frustrated, I curl my fists. “Bollocks. Damn your soul to hell, I’m still me. My name may now be Daire and not Dove but I still showed you parts of my soul that I’ve never shown anyone. No one has drunk my blood before. If I’d come here as King Daire, then you’d have killed me on sight. You’d never have given me a chance or got to know me. I’m the same idiot who stuffs my face with too many honey and date bat cakes and can spar better with you than anyone else. Look into my eyes, Bat. This is fucking me.”

My heart sinks, when Lanlin shakes his head.

His pheromones are powerful like a fog.

He grabs me by the curls, baring my neck in a way that is uncomfortable for any Alpha. “Do you claim that you are just the same Blood Lover as you were before, my dear? Then you are wasting my blood.”

He licks up my neck, cleaning the blood that has trickled down from the deep cut.

He shivers, as my blood that is like ambrosia hits him. When he tightens his hold on me, teasing his tongue along the cut, I shiver.

Except, it’s with fear, as much as pleasure.

My eyes smart with tears.

So, it’s going to be like this, huh?

Lanlin glances up at me through his long eyelashes. “I can hear how fast your heart is racing. It tells me your lies when you won’t. Even now, I will only take blood with permission. Order me to stop, fae.”

I press my lips tightly together.

Lanlin snarls, latching his teeth into my neck.

I hiss.

Why did it have to end like this? Why did I hope that it could have ended differently?

We’re enemies.

How could we have been anything else?

Yet Lanlin doesn’t drink, only holds onto me like he doesn’t want to let go. As if this way, he can hold onto me forever.