Heir of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #2) - Linsey Hall
1
The cool night air blew my hair back from my face as I crouched in the alley, waiting for my prey. The Council of Demon Slayers had sent me after an Exurbia demon, and it was the perfect night for hunting.
If I ignored the puddle of vomit to my left.
And the spoiled Thai takeout to my right.
It all reeked, making my stomach turn.
I had a strong stomach. After all, I cut into my veins daily as part of my Blood Sorcery.
But vomit was where I drew the line.
I also drew the line at demons who screwed with my city. Which left me in this unfortunate predicament. This demon was coming to steal the magic from unwitting citizens. By doing so, he’d pretty much be stealing their souls.
Not on my watch.
Which meant I was crouched here in the third level of hell, hoping the demon hurried up so I could kill him and get on with my night.
Movement on a rooftop to my left caught my eye.
What the hell?
It was after three in the morning on the quieter side of town. No one should be out at this hour.
But there was definitely a man up there—tall, broad-shouldered, and with a silhouette that made him look like a god. The moon shone from behind, casting him in shadow, but I couldn’t help but think of Tarron.
Tarron, the powerful and devastatingly handsome Fae king who believed I was his fated mate.
Tarron, the same Fae king who’d just learned that I was Unseelie to his Seelie. In Fae terms, I was evil to his good. Dark to his light.
It wasn’t a problem for me. I’d been a Dragon Blood all my life, possessing such powerful magic that I could turn to the dark side any time I wanted, becoming obsessed with power.
I never had though.
So learning that I was half Unseelie Fae wasn’t that big a deal. To me, at least.
I knew I wouldn’t turn evil.
Tarron didn’t. And the Unseelie had basically killed his brother. Worse, even.
When he’d found out what I was last week, the disgust on his face had made me run. We’d had something between us—something new but real—and his sudden change of heart…
Yeah, no. Not for me.
I wasn’t going to stick around with a guy who thought my origin was disgusting. True, I had no control over my new wings or whatever Unseelie magic existed within me. I hadn’t been able to make the wings appear again after they’d shown up the first time, and that was terrifying. But that didn’t make me evil.
The figure on the roof didn’t move.
Was it really him?
There was no way he’d be spying on me. Not a king, come to the real world of Magic’s Bend to watch a peon like myself.
He disappeared, but the tension didn’t fade from my shoulders. Just the idea that it might have been him tied me up in knots.
I turned my attention back to the street, just in time to see the demon. He was slinking out of the alley across the street, his form tall and wiry. His skin was a pale, ashy blue and his eyes a brilliant red. Long horns protruded from his head, and his magic reeked of a skunk who’d gone to town in a dumpster.
I grimaced, then frowned.
He didn’t look like an Exurbia demon. Maybe he just looked funny? Anyway, he was a demon in the right place at the right time.
Good enough for me.
I called upon my bow and arrow, drawing them from the ether.
The demon was quick, moving toward the open window of a first-floor apartment. The person who lived there had clearly been trying to catch a bit of breeze.
Instead, they’d catch a demon.
Not tonight.
I rose silently, sighting my arrow and releasing it toward the demon. It flew through the air, swiftly and silently.
A satisfied grin spread across my face.
It’d be a direct hit.
At the last moment, the demon turned and smacked the arrow out of the way. He moved as a blur.
The bastard.
Exurbia demons shouldn’t be that fast.
Yeah, he definitely wasn’t an Exurbia demon.
I raised my bow and arrow again, but his flame red eyes met mine. He grinned, his fangs glinting in the light, then shot a blast of electric blue energy at me. It sparkled with green lights. I’d never seen anything like it.
I dived left, hoping to avoid the strike.
The magic slammed into my leg, making pain tear through my muscles. I shook uncontrollably as I dropped to the ground, tears prickling at my eyes.