Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(107)

Another surge of power punched Steve. He took a step back with a ladylike gasp. Fire ants of pain crawled along his skin.

The blood drained from his face. This was a tiny little surge? Steve hadn’t even been her target, yet it felt like his face was being sanded off.

For the first time in a long time, Steve’s beast did not want to emerge and fight. Unbelievably, he felt like running. Not to mention, elves could sense magical beings. If this magic went haywire anywhere near one of them, even a lesser-powered elf would notice. Traveling off the beaten path didn’t matter a whole helluva lot when you were being followed.

They needed to get to the Flush, pronto.

“Charity, get in the car.” Devon’s voice was a whip-crack of command, his alpha magic rattling Steve’s bones. The three new people, so damn confused they looked like clowns staring at an empty circus tent, swiveled to look at Devon.

The alpha had arrived.

“It’s fine,” Charity said. “Honestly, it’s mostly under control.”

It was a long fucking way from being mostly under control.

Devon turned to her. His power struggle was no longer with a slack-jawed Dale, but with a power-oozing warrior fae. His shifter magic boomed, making Steve wonder how he’d blasted that much out without changing shape.

As if she were a dog reacting to a silent whistle, Charity snapped her head toward Devon, staring at him like he was a rival magic holder competing for dominance. A beautiful fluidity took over her lithe body, and a strange glow emanated from her skin. The fingers on her right hand twitched, as if wrapping around an invisible sword.

A flash of brilliant blue eclipsed her focused brown eyes and a lovely smile tickled her lips. A strange music drifted in on the breeze, like cupids singing of battles and death, killing and mayhem. Magic rolled from her in thick, gooey waves.

“Are you done?” Devon asked in a low, rough voice.

How he withstood that onslaught of magic without at least half-cowering—like everyone else—Steve had no idea.

Blue flashed over Charity’s eyes again. “I’m just beginning. Can’t you feel the thrill of it?”

A shiver flash-froze Steve’s body, but strangely, his cock hardened. He was man enough to admit that this whole situation scared the shit out of him. Yet, strangely, he’d still take her—or one of her kind—to Pound Town. Exhilarating.

“Enough of this,” Devon said, his body brimming with controlled supremacy. “You have to learn to master it until we can get you training. You’ll end up hurting yourself or one of your own.”

Like a balloon popping, the painful prickles and tiny punching fists dissolved. Her posture lost that breathtakingly lethal edge. She looked like a fallen angel, unsure, worried and vulnerable. Steve’s heart squished.

“Get in the car,” Devon said softly, not yet letting go of his magic.

Heaving a sigh as she turned, she muttered, “I hate this weird magic.”

Steve let chuckles relieve the tension. Now he understood why the young pup had transformed into such a strong alpha. Devon had needed to gain strength, power, and control to combat the unbalanced and unpredictable magic of the budding warrior fae. Roger had mentioned it, but he couldn’t have prepared Steve for the experience. Steve had heard that her kind were mostly gentle and loving, but if roused, they’d rip the world apart. Devon had risked his own safety and well-being to help her control the uncontrollable. He was a good man, but what a trip.

Note to self: bed only trained warrior fae.

“This is the control you have over your pack?” Dale asked as everyone started toward the vans.

“Dave, give it a rest, would ya?” Steve said before Devon could turn around. He ran his fingers through his hair.

“My name is—”

“I agree,” Cole intoned. “Give it a rest. At least until the fae has calmed down. That wasn’t…pleasant.”

“Neither is the volume of your voice,” Steve murmured.

“Never enter a library with him,” Barbara said, breaking off to go in the front van with Devon and Charity. Steve grinned, mostly because she wasn’t kidding. Also because she’d rather ride with an unpredictable fae than with Loudmouth Larkin.

“I get the feeling the girl and daddy dearest don’t get along?” Dale whispered as they neared the rear van.

“From what I gather, he was an abusive prick,” Steve said, climbing into the van beside Andy. Rod glanced back from the driver’s seat but Macy, in the front passenger side, ignored them.

“A drunk, abusive prick and the reason her mother left her,” Andy added as Cole swung into the rear, followed by Dale. Andy nodded at Steve. “Hey. Good to have ya.”

“How’s your face?” Steve replied.

“Why? Do I have scratches all over it?”

“You can’t feel the road rash?”

“Not over the throb in my shoulder, no.”

“If she can’t control her magic, traveling through the Realm will not be…easy,” Cole said.

“Neither will being in confined spaces with you,” Macy murmured.

Steve huffed out a laugh while he rubbed his temples. “You’re both right. Let’s hope Emery is as good as everyone says. Otherwise, we’re not going to get very far.”

Grab it here.