Savage Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, #2)

by Caroline Peckham

That gave me some hope at least that I might receive visions in future that could protect her.

I’m trying to keep away from her but sometimes it just feels so impossible.”

It was her I was protecting and I couldn’t explain that to Mystice.

They would never let either of you love anyone else.”

“I just can’t let her get hurt,” I breathed, knowing I couldn’t explain it any more than that.

You’re her mate Gabriel. Suited to her in every way imaginable.

Perhaps I’d been wrong. Maybe we could be together. Maybe Mystice was right...

not reading any of the words as Elise consumed my mind.

I’d made a decision, one which made me happier than I’d ever been. One that shook the foundations of my soul and sent light pouring through my body.

I’d fucked our relationship up so much already, I knew I couldn’t go swooping in on her, asking her to be...

I needed her to forgive me, I’d beg for it, I’d wait and wait until she fina...

I’d lay it all out for her, bare my heart and get down on my knees if that was what it took.

I had hope again. A feeling that had alluded me for so many years. I’m not going to be alone anymore.

I slipped the flower into my pocket. It was a shitty, cliché gesture anyway. I could do better.

I gave Elise a lingering look, hating that I had to wait longer, but it would be worth it. She would be worth it.

“Ohmagodd, look! Gabriel Nox is stripping in that tree!”

“What Order are you?” the guy asked the cat. “It’s a cat, man,” I said, unable to help myself. “A cat man? Woahhh.”

“What the fuck were you doing? Do you realise I just watched a junkie take a selfie with a pissed off cat?”

Apart from her hair and the carefree smile on her face, I’d know her fucking anywhere.

She was branded on my body. She was sharing a room with me at school. She was my goddamn Elysian Mate. Gareth’s fucking sister.

“Holy fucking shit!” I cried then sprinted from the room, flung the front door open and took off into the sky.

“Bad little monster,” he scolded teasingly. “I’ve told you, no biting until the main course.”

Maybe I want you to beg me to bite you.” “Never gonna happen. Pain doesn’t get me off.”

A scream escaped me half a second before he collided with me, snatching me off my feet and yanking me into the sky.

Gabriel threw my bag down at his feet and held the burner before my eyes, shaking it tauntingly. “You got anything to say about this?” he asked, his tone dark.

He knew. He fucking knew. Nothing I could say could cover my ass now.

“And from the evidence I’ve found, you look like a pretty strong candidate.” “Candidate? You make it sound like you’re conducting a fucking investigation.”

It doesn’t matter now anyway.” “It does to me,” he snapped.

Gareth’s death broke her. It broke me too. So if you’re going to kill me as well then why don’t you just do it rather than dragging it out?”

My lips parted and something inside me shattered, only to rebuild itself out of the broken pieces of everything I thought I’d known about him.

I half wanted to throw myself into his arms and bury my face against his chest as he held me but I didn’t.

Gabriel chewed on the inside of his cheek, his eyes flashing with something that looked a hell of a lot like shame and maybe even a hint of fear.

So I just told him everything and he was going to give me nothing in return?

“And if you feel you need to do something to me in retaliation for my part in things then go ahead.” The vines fell from my arms as he released me from his magic, leaving his back to me as he offered up this chance.

Although you really shouldn’t worry about being my Elysian Mate. Because I’d rather be star-crossed than stuck with you for the rest of my life.”

He didn’t follow me. And for some reason, that hurt even more than his lies.

Leon was sitting on the low bench to my left while four of his Mindys fought for position to massage parts of his body while he kept his eyes closed, enjoying the attention.

He ended the call and got to his feet with a wide smile. “Mia famiglia are here,” he said, turning and striding towards the doors.

“Listen Gareth, if you’re any Lion’s Mindy, you’re mine, okay?”

Dante leapt from the stands where a huge crowd of Oscura Werewolves were whooping and hollering in support of him.

“No, mio amico. An Oscura handles their own problems.”

“And if they keep playing dirty, they’ll find out exactly who they’ve been fucking with after the match.”

“Shouldn’t you be celebrating our win?” “I am,” I ground out. “I’m just…we shouldn’t have let them get away with cheating like that.” “Who said anything about letting them get away with it?” Dante purred.

“So,” Dante called out, his voice loud and commanding. “Who here thought it would be a good idea to cheat against the Oscura King?”

Dante turned to look at his family who had clustered into the space behind us. “Do you think it’s no big deal that they disrespected me like that?” he asked casually.

There was nothing of the guy I’d begun to think of as my friend in his gaze now. I was looking upon the King of the Oscura Clan, Storm Dragon born of Wolves. And his dark expression said he meant business.

“You’re with us or against us, cavallo,” he warned as a sliver of fear raced down my spine. “C’mon man,” Leon encouraged, slapping a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t you want to teach these assholes a lesson? They cheated, almost cost us the match, stabbed you.”

He was right. It was time I stopped letting life crap all over me. Time I started standing tall and owning my own destiny.

I cried out, punching, kicking, biting and tearing into my foe as Leon and Dante fought beside me.

I glanced up and spotted Rosalie Oscura filming the whole thing with a wild glint in her eyes as her older cousins crowded close around her protectively.