Crypts and Crimes (Trixie Towers #3) - Scarlett Dawn Page 0,16

for a few minutes. Go away.”

Her companion slowly straightened his spine, growling in fury, “Now I understand. Who gave you that sweater?”

Blood…boiling. I would soon blow.

Princess Trixie reached blindly for a shelf, shoving her free hand on it as she bowed over and continued clutching at her chest, sucking in large lungfuls of breath and shaking her head.

The elf grabbed her shoulders and jerked her around to face him, shaking her frame briskly and demanding harshly, “Who is the motherfucker?”

She batted at his chest, attempting—and failing—to push him away. “Stop it. I can’t tell you.”

Enough.

I stood up straight, my muscles taut to pounce. I prowled right at the two unsuspecting elves, ready to play with my prey. Blood churned in my eyes as I stated calmly, “I don’t believe Princess Trixie wishes your hands on her.”

The man froze at my words.

Princess Trixie’s eyes widened in horror at my sudden appearance, whispering harshly, “King Athon.”

I kept prowling, my attention on the back of the man’s hood. I growled in slow ticks, ready to attack and rip his throat out with my tiger fangs. “Release her now.”

“Go,” Princess Trixie commanded, jerking her eyes up to his hidden face. She hesitated, and then stated softly, “That is an order.”

Her companion flinched at her words.

My steps did not speed up. There was no need.

He cursed roughly and yanked his hands off her shoulders. The man ran past her, racing down the long row—away from me—holding his hood in place to hide his face. The elf was extremely fast, surprisingly so, quickly disappearing from sight.

I chuckled darkly, intimately, as if she and I were alone in my bedchamber. I mocked quietly, “Do you really think that can stop me?”

My cheating soul mate grasped at her chest again but held out her free hand in a stopping gesture. She begged, “It isn’t what you think. He is a friend of mine. Please, you need to calm down.”

I stopped directly in front of her and grabbed her tiny throat with my right hand, squeezing hard enough to bruise her delicate, porcelain skin. While she choked for air and slapped at my hand, I stated conversationally, “If that is true, tell me his name. You would not fear to give the name of a friend, only a lover.”

Her wide, green, elven eyes blinked rapidly. I loosened my grip just enough for her to catch one gasping breath, enough for her to answer.

She wheezed, “I can’t give it to you.”

I squeezed even harder. “Bitch.”

Princess Trixie shook her head frantically, saying with her last breath, “Can’t.” A second later, she suddenly stopped scratching my hand and raised her fingers high, tapping desperately at my crown. She mouthed, “Can’t.”

I stared down into her red, perspiring face.

My blink was slow as her eyelashes fluttered wildly.

Fae dammit.

I jerked my hand back from her throat.

She instantly bent over and started coughing brutally.

I snarled under my breath and shoved my power into the part of my Fae-spark that was her, healing her damned body much quicker than she was able. I stalked back and forth down the aisle, passing her multiple times, shaking my hands out. I clashed brutally against my royal bloodpower, clawing it back into submission.

Princess Trixie straightened gradually, long healed, watching me with narrowed, furious eyes. She reviled my very being even more than before, hissing, “You are lucky I didn’t torch your shifter ass.”

Her power level didn’t even come close to mine.

My rough laughter was a threat. I kept moving.

“He is my dear friend. I can promise you that.” She tilted her head side to side, her fragile neck popping twice. “But I will not give you his name.”

I snarled under my breath again. “He works for the elven crown.” It wasn’t a question, and I didn’t expect a response. I kept pacing back and forth, lest I shift right here in the store. “What you said to him… Did you stay there all week? In his bed?”

She cleared her throat and sniffed. “Yes.”

I bit hard at the air right in front of her face, baring my fangs, enjoying how she cringed. I kept prowling the row, capturing her eyes with mine—without mercy. I rumbled sharply, “Do you really think that is an acceptable action? Is it all right if I sleep in another’s bed?”

“I…” Princess Trixie crossed her arms over her chest and took a small step back. “No. And no.”

“Are you going to do it again?” I snarled at my young fucking soul mate. I stopped in front of