Fighting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles, #1)

I struck without warning. Slamming my face into his and crying out at the same time he did. I fought against the chains, knowing that pain was up next. I’d smashed his too sexy face. No way was he going to allow me to live now.

Surprisingly, he seemed unaffected after a moment. I on the other hand had blood oozing down from my smashed nose. He stepped back, reaching slowly down to the bottom of the shirt he wore before pulling it up and over his head slowly.

I flinched, he was ripped and looked like he had stepped from the cover a male fitness catalogue. A solid six pack flowed down his abs, disappearing under the rough jeans he wore. A small thin trail of dark hair started below his navel, flowing in a thin seducing trail into the waistline of his jeans that clung loosely to his tapered hips. He was covered in Celtic brands that looked similar to tattoos, but moved.

The door opened as another Fae walked in, as he got closer I saw he wasn’t Fae exactly—he was a Demon. His skin was covered in brands similar to mine and Adam's, which were usually invisible to the eye and if I invoked my own, they would glow and match his Celtic patterns. The Dark Prince didn’t have a Witch, no, he had a fucking Demon.

The Demon was taller than the Prince. His silver eyes swirled with black patterns that were common for his kind. His hair was long and straight and looked as soft as silk and was the color of freshly poured ink. His forearms were covered in thick brands that I could tell flowed up and covered his neck and stopped just below his face.

“Who do you work for?” The Prince continued to question me, his sharp eyes watching, searching for a weakness.

“Your mother, she wants you to clean your bedroom,” I quipped sarcastically. A silent shiver raced down my spine as I remembered his bedroom. I flinched as he held his hand up until it touched my face. An earthly scent whirled through the room as cool waves touched my face. The bleeding stopped as he lowered his hand from my face.

He ignored my taunts and nodded to the tall exotic Demon of his. A few minutes of awkward silence descended on the large sterile room. I watched him from beneath my lashes…his glyphs were beautiful. Thick black Celtic markings covered a single shoulder, flowing gently onto his chest and down his side flowing further onto his back out of sight.

"I found something that might make you talk," he said interrupting my thoughts.

I was still trying to figure out what his brands meant when a familiar cry ripped from the hallway. My heart accelerated, my mouth going dry again, but this time with fear. Chandra and Adam were led inside the room, both bloodied from fighting for their lives.

I felt angry tears push against my eyes, as I met Adam's vibrant emerald stare. They were told to leave, to run so why hadn’t they? I pulled all emotion back from my features, sucking in air until I wanted to choke on it. Chandra’s lip was swollen and bloodied as if she’d been assaulted.

They were pushed in together and Adam was shoved to his knees in front of me. His shoulder length black hair clung to his bronze face, his eyes begging me to forgive him. I wanted to scream at him. He should have been clear, if he'd done as I'd said he would've been. I'd tried to buy them time with myself as a hostage. If I'd known he hadn't listened I would have fought them.

I lifted my gaze from Adam to Ryder who was watching me closely and judging my reaction. He materialized a Rugger 9mm from thin air and cocked it before holding it to Adam's temple.

“Talk or he dies.”

A gun—seriously, even I knew these guys didn’t need guns to kill, so he had to be doing this so I could see the threat. I couldn’t talk. It was part of my training. If Adam spoke of the Guild or gave anything away—I myself would be killing him. It was part of the blood oath they made us take when we graduated. Our eyes met and held, his saying that it was okay, mine showing everything I felt. Frustration at not being able to help. Anger for what was happening and pain for what I was losing—my closest friend.

“Use the girl,” his Demon said when I refused to answer.

Relief washed over me as Adam was spared from death and chained beside me in the other set of hanging manacles. Chandra was pushed in front of me and shoved to her knees the same way Adam had been. She was fairly new to the Guild and I didn’t know her as well as I did Adam.

I met and held Chandra’s eyes, telling her I was sorry but her eyes didn’t hold remorse, or regret—deep malice sat smoldering in her hazel eyes. I almost choked on my tongue—I knew that look. Shit…she would talk.

“My name is Chandra—” She smiled coldly at me.

“Shut up Chandra,” I growled with warning making my voice sharp.

“Fuck you, I’m not dying here!” She cried.