Night Fae (Dark Fae Kings #3) - Meg Xuemei X. Page 0,63

of options, my thoughts flying fast.

If we were outside the Wild Hunt, it would be extremely difficult to break apart the torque. But we were in the null zone, where magic was voided. The spell on the torque was greatly weakened, though Cerberus wouldn’t be able to break it himself. That was possibly why my evil sister had been overconfident enough to send the hellhound. Plus, the Wild Hunt wouldn’t be the hunt if it didn’t involve a few hounds.

I can fix your problem, Cerberus, I said. But if I free you, will you help me fight your brethren?

He blinked in confusion, and the flames in his eyes flickered. Who are my brethren?

The hybrids.

He turned to them with a threatening snarl, and the hounds edged a bit further away from him.

I’m unique, Heir, Cerberus said. Free me and I’ll guard you. I’ll kill the Fae and the queen’s hybrids savagely.

I sent my intention to his mind so we could coordinate our efforts.

“Walk away, Lady Catlin,” I said, my eyes never leaving her, as the conversation between the hellhound and me took only seconds in real time. “Do not make an enemy out of King Rydstrom. If he learns that you hunted me, he’ll kill you for sure.”

“You aren’t the Night King’s mate,” she screamed. “You think you’re special to him, just like every woman before you. You’re nothing to him, and he’ll forget you just as he once forgot about me. I know more about men than you, little whore. I’m not the same Night Fae he took to bed. I have so much more to offer now. He’ll see that I’m his true love once you’re dead.”

“It won’t work the way you want, Catlin,” I said. “Rydstrom never loved you. Nor will he ever love you. I’m asking you to walk away and live a new life for Rydstrom’s sake because he still cares about you.”

“You’re wrong.” She flashed me a victorious smile. “Queen Brigantia told me that you were the reason that I suffered for decades. The queen promised to give King Rydstrom to me after I bring her your severed head. I bet you knew already that the Night King will hunt you down in person in the last bout. Even he can’t fight the magical demand of the Wild Hunt. I’m actually doing him a great favor by slaying you for him, so he won’t need to get his hands dirty. He’ll appreciate it, and he’ll be mine forever.”

“You’re just another one of Brigantia’s victims,” I sighed.

What was I going to do with my mate’s ex-lover? I didn’t want to kill her, but she’d try everything to kill me, believing I was the obstacle to her happiness and the barrier between her and my mate.

“Die, Ileana!” Catlin released the arrow.

It whooshed toward my face. My hand lashed out and snatched the arrowhead three inches from my left eye.

“I’m not just any High Fae, unlike you,” I said, tossing the arrow onto the forest floor. “Iron has no effect on me. For Rydstrom’s sake, I’m forgiving your offense to the true queen of the Dawn Court, and I’m offering you one last chance to live. Walk away now, Lady Catlin, and find something meaningful to do with your life.”

“Bring the boy!” Catlin shouted.

To my horror, Charlie stepped into the clearing, pressing a sharp knife against my brother’s throat. My eyes narrowed, fear for Nox turning my blood to ice. I’d thought someone in my team might turn on me at some point, but I’d never expected Charlie to be the traitor. He looked weak and innocent. He looked like my easygoing brother Emmett.

In front of my eyes, Charlie transformed into a swaggering, wicked goon as he roughly dragged my brother toward Catlin, using Nox as his shield. Catlin drank in the terror in my eyes, and hers glinted with insidious delight.

I would do anything to save my brother. I wasn’t beyond begging. I wouldn’t be ashamed of pleading with Charlie if I thought he still had an ounce of conscience, but I knew that if someone was willing to harm a child, their conscience was already dead.

“So, you’ve been working with the usurper queen all along, Charlie?” I asked as coolly as I could, a lethal undercurrent lacing my voice. “You fooled me.”

“It’s the only way to end the game,” Charlie said, violent glee in his eyes. He’d probably never felt so powerful and important in his entire life as he did in this moment. “It’s not