The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,7

under the fae’s control. And just as dangerous and unpredictable as the fae themselves.

She led me up the wide spiral staircase, her grip tight as she all but dragged me along, turning right at the top to a dimly lit balcony. Downing half of the nightshade, a drink toxic to humans but more like tequila to the fae, she led me to a set of occupied couches and chair. I registered several fae, all with a tranced human by their side or in their laps. It was likely none of these humans were going to make it out of this club alive tonight.

“Look what I found, Tobias.” The female pulled me forward with a strength that didn’t match her willowy frame, and I let myself be shoved, even allowed myself to stumble. The fae caught my arm, stopping me from toppling flat on my face.

My gaze darted around, and then I saw him.

He was sitting on a small, black couch, his arms and legs spread in an arrogant sprawl. I saw the human façade just for a brief second. Pale skin gave way to a silvery tone. Hair and features remained the same. Blond and handsome, he looked like a frat boy with silver skin and pointed ears. He was definitely one of them.

And now I had a name to match a face I’d never forget.

Tobias.

A rush of anticipation shot through my veins, spreading goosebumps all over my skin. It was him. There’d been five of them total and he was one of the three that remained.

“You always treat me well, Alyssa,” he said, his pale blue gaze crawling over my length. “You know how I have a soft spot for redheads.”

“A soft spot.” The female fae called Alyssa let go of my arm. “More like a hard-on.”

Oh dear.

I kept my face impressively blank as Tobias jerked his chin. Oscar worthy, really. Another fae came forward, out of the shadows. He was a tall one and it took everything in me not to flinch as he put his hands on me, skimming them down my front and back, checking for weapons. The fae had gotten smarter in the last two years.

So had we.

The fae’s hands moved up my legs meticulously and then my hips. His fingers glanced over the wide cuffs at my wrists. “She’s clear.”

“Good.” Tobias leaned forward. “Come here, Red.”

I forced my steps to be slow and uneven, and when he lifted his hand to me, I placed mine in his even though it utterly sickened me.

Tobias didn’t pull me into his lap like I expected. Instead, he rose from the couch. “What time will Aric be here?”

Aric? That name wasn’t familiar to me; then again, it wasn’t like I hung out with these murderous, psychotic Winter fae.

“You have an hour, tops.” Alyssa tossed herself onto the couch. “Make good use of it.”

“You bet.” He circled his arm around my waist, drawing me to his front. He smelled good. Like winter mint. But they all smelled good. They all looked good, too. And this fae was obviously in the mood for more than just feeding, which was what I was betting on. “You want seconds?”

“Sure,” the female fae purred. “If there’s anything left.”

Tobias lifted me up without warning, tossing me over his shoulder like a damn Neanderthal claiming his prize. To go limp scratched at my skin as he stalked across the short distance. A door opened and then we were inside a room that I imagined a lot of very bad things happened in. He kicked the door shut behind us and I heard the lock turn without him touching it.

His hand curved over my ass as he lowered me onto the floor. Strands of red hair had fallen in front of my face, and I stood there as he brushed them back behind my ears. “Do you know why I like redheads? No. Of course you don’t.”

I blinked slowly, taking in the room as he let go. There was a chair. A bed that looked… well used. My stomach churned with nausea. But he didn’t go to the bed; he went to the throne-like chair with crushed velvet cushions. He sat and stared up at me.

“Come on. Don’t be shy.” Those pale eyes seemed to burn. “We’re going to get to know each other, aren’t we?”

“Yes?” I whispered.

A half smile spread across his lips as he hooked a finger in my direction. “Come on then.”

I forced a small smile as I shuffled to him. The gasp