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

by Caroline Peckham

“No one summons an Oscura,” I agreed and Mamma smiled conspiratorially.

For a moment I thought of mentioning Elise before realising that was crazy.

We were the furthest thing from a couple you could get. Though I wished I could change that, it looked like sharing her with my friend was about the closest I would get

“But we can’t be together. Things are complicated.” I thought of the deal I’d struck with Ryder and thorns wrapped around my heart.

A small hand clutched onto my trouser leg and I looked down, finding Fabrizio there, gazing up at me for reassurance. I rested my hand on the back of his head, glaring at Felix.

but Fabrizio’s hands tightened on my trousers. The kid was staring up at his Alpha for reassurance and leaving him here would be like abandoning a pup in the forest.

The single clue I had to where that money was going every month. He’d been paying my mom’s old employer. But why?

“But strippers are always smiling and I’m really not cut out for too much of that,” I teased.

I couldn’t face it now. I couldn’t deal with any of this now.

“Are you here to report a crime or confess to one?” she asked. “Neither. I’m here to collect my brother’s belongings. His name was Gareth Tempa.”

my soul felt hollow.

Something shattered deep within me.

I’d always known my mom wasn’t the best mother in the world, but I’d always thought she loved me.

All I knew now was that I truly was alone.

the only piece of him I had left.

I didn’t cry. I wasn’t even sure I had any tears left anymore. Or maybe they just weren’t enough to express the emptiness in me now. Even my rage was absent. I just felt…nothing.

“My brother died,” I breathed slowly. “And I’m starting to think it was because of me.”

“Hai la forza di tutte le stelle e lo spirito di un guerriero, amore mio. Non hai bisogno di nessuno. Neanche tua madre. Ma tu hai me,”

“Sto cadendo sotto il tuo incantesimo, Elise. We can do whatever you like.”

I turned my head, stealing a look at Elise a few rows behind me in the dark.

Ryder sat behind her, his hand resting over his candle jar so the flames licked his skin, his eyes firmly on Elise’s back.

Thanks stars, just another little chip off my soul. Why can’t you ever just be straight with me? Give me a fucking solution.

The Libra tattoo on my chest was itching and I pressed my lips together as I attempted to ignore it.

I knew it like the stars knew it. Eyes closed or not. Elise and I had just been paired and the barely concealed sigh she released told me exactly what she thought of that.

“It’s hard to tell but I think it’s a big…winged…dipshit, leaning over my shoulder.”

“I see something too. It’s a stubborn girl who thinks she’s funny.” “I am funny,” she said simply. “Hilarious actually.”

“I’m sure all of your friends would agree – oh but you don’t have any of those, do you?”

and a sick kind of satisfaction filled me at knowing I was getting under her skin. If I still affected her that meant s...

Even if I managed to resist her for the rest of my life, I might always pine for her.

I could have friends if I wanted to. I just choose not to,” she said, her pissy mask firmly back in place.

We’re never going to be together. Even though I knew that, it was somehow more painful in that moment than it had been before. Fuck, why is this so hard?

and her skirt lifted enough to give me a view up it and anyone else who cared to look.

I caught the hem, pushing it down between her thighs on instinct and her lips parted as I quickly extracted my hand.

She bared her fangs and something about that made my cock twitch happily. For fuck’s sake.

“It was like…like I was flying above the Acrux Courtyard.” She shook her head in amazement and confusion and my mouth hooked up at the corner, her surprise having melted away her anger. Her gaze dropped to my lips as her smile fell and her throat bobbed.

“Well don’t go flying without me,” I said, cursing myself for the words the second they left my mouth. What a fucking douchey thing to say.

“You can’t have me but you don’t want anyone else to, right?”

in the dark so my mouth was against her ear and my heart was thrumming in my chest as her delicious scent washed over me.

“I want you every minute of every day, what do you expect me to do? Seeing you wi...

tightening it enough to choke me. A low growl escaped me, but she...

Another growl emanated from my chest to warn her off, but part of me wanted to drag her closer.

“No one drinks from me.” “You might like it,” she purred and the almost playful tone to her voice made me wish things could stay like this.

No matter how hard I fought it, she was becoming precious to me and with her this close, it was hard to keep up my walls.

“Dammit,” she hissed. “Sucks for you,” I said with a victory grin. “I hear I taste angelic.”

“Oh well, I’ve got a Storm Dragon and a Basilisk on tap. AKA electric ecstasy and fuck-hot milkshake. You couldn’t taste better than them.”

I tried not to hate her for saying that. But I did. I hated that she bit them, I hated that their hands roamed her body while her mouth was on their necks. I hated that they shared something with her and that I’d never share anything with her again.

I was feeling weak. Too long in her company gave the stars time to chip away at my willpower and I was already back to wanting to steal her away to the rooftop for another night in my arms.

But as she walked away without even a goodbye, I knew what my fortune was tonight without having to scry.

I’d be alone. Like always. Like ...

If I could get a grasp on my gifts, I could make better decisions. I wouldn’t have to hurt Elise like this if I knew which path to take.