Lords of the Hunt (Wilde Fae, #1)

by Kate King

Mother had three cardinal rules: 1. Never make a bargain with a fairy. 2. Never enter the Waywoods on a hunting day. 3. Never give the High Fae a reason to notice you.

There were nine living members of the house of Everlast. Until the fall of this year, it had been ten.

“You bit me. How positively Fae of you.”

“You just won me a great deal of money, so I’ll let your violent urges go unpunished. This time.”

Maybe the other servants were right. I was cursed. Because all those who were noticed by the Everlasts became theirs, and I could never let that happen. Never.

“Slúagh,” was simply what the High Fae called those of us who belonged to neither realm entirely. Though I was born here, my mother was not. She was a changeling—a human child taken maliciously in the night and raised to serve the High Fae court.

“What violent tendencies you have.”

“You’re a little monster.”

“It was after sundown,”

“I have your crown. That makes me the queen.”

“Yes, it ...

“And let's see how well the crown serves you ...

“Why did you do that?”

“Because, you need to know I’ll kill anyone who hurts you, little monster.”

“Knowledge is power, but it is also a curse. But then, power is a curse unto itself. Do you think perhaps they are the same thing?”

“Are you fucking insane,”

“If you’re going to keep asking that without getting an answer, I’m going to think it’s you who’s insane.”

THOSE WHO DREAM BY DAY ARE COGNIZANT OF MANY THINGS WHICH ESCAPE THOSE WHO DREAM ONLY BY NIGHT

“I’m going to devour you, little monster. You taste like magic.”

I find, that if I want to speak with friends, I can only reach them in the dark.”

“My family has a longstanding tradition of rejecting our true mates in favor of a marriage to someone with more complementary magic, so our children will have stronger powers.”

“What if I have no desire to play your games?”

“You don’t get it. You’re not one of the players. You’re part of the game.”

THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF A TEMPTATION IS TO YIELD TO IT

“Aisling was from the northern province of Nightshade. Her magic was strong, due to living near the source of all magic, and therefore she took three mates to help share her power. One from each of the High Fae cities of Overcast, Inbetwixt and Nevermore in order to bind the land together into one kingdom.”

“What did the curse do?”

“As long as the crown is not returned to the worthy wearer, the obsidian kingdom will know everlasting misery. If ever any member of the royal house should experience true happiness, all those with Everlast blood in their veins will die.”

“No, little monster. I come from a long line of villains. If there are any heroes in this story, they share no blood with me.”

The sky turning black when the Source erupted was an odd coincidence. I wondered if Prince Bael knew what day I was born. I doubted it. I doubted he knew exactly how old I was.

“I don’t necessarily have magic.”

“You do. It’s painfully obvious. We all know it, we just don’t know what it is.”

“I’ll let you keep your lies for now, little monster. All I care about is that you’re safe.”

His voice lacked some of the refined musicality I was used to, but was just as hypnotic. Honeyed. Like sex and dessert personified.

Curiosity—it would kill me one day, and what a wonderful way to go.

“You’re making it far too hard to stay away from you, little monster. It’s driving me fucking insane.”

I burned, if possible, even hotter, writhing against Bael’s fingers as silver eyes bored into mine.

“It doesn’t matter, though. Do you understand what would happen if I fucked you the way I want to right now? The way I know you want me to? That’s a completed mate bond, which would kill not only you but my entire house.”

Without warning, a dancing blue and white flame appeared in his palm.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know. I have never been able to make fire, but when you were attacked my own magic failed me. Instea...

“So, why don’t you tell me, mate. What are yo...