House of Fae

Steamy

Forced Proximity

Morally Gray

Fated Mates

Fast-Paced

Fae

Urban Fantasy Romance

Her lungs burned like they might burst, and she struggled to inhale with the adrenaline pumping through her system. How did they find her again? Damn Fae. She hated them after the hell they brought to her life, and the chaos they continued to rain on her existence.

Nena parked her motorcycle in a spot close to an empty alleyway, dropped her helmet on the seat, and darted into the shadows. A cat hissed, scurrying close to her leg before disappearing around the corner of the building. Trash littered the pavement, but it was the perfect place to hide. She carefully treaded, trying not to bump into the dented trash cans lining the wall for fear of revealing her location.

The king’s guards were two steps behind her in every new city, state, and country, and she was sick of running, moving, hiding, and dodging them, only to wash, rinse, and repeat in each new place. The Fae King wouldn’t rest until he destroyed her entire family line, and she was the last. She refused to make it easy for him.

Magic swirled in the air, and lightning struck overhead. Charged particles glowed green as they fell to earth and illuminated the night. She ran into this alleyway, hoping to throw them off her trail, but they tracked her with ease this time. The Fae must have a new trick up their sleeve.

Nena plastered her back against the brick wall, whispered the words her father taught her, and inhaled a deep breath. She was smoke and shadow, transparent and undetectable to the naked eye. Her body became featherlight and translucent, blending with the environment.

A sly grin formed on her lips when a portal opened just as she faded into the wall. It was an illusion, a trick of the mind, but it worked so many times she’d lost count. You’d think one of them would possess the gift of sight. Dumb fairies passed her a thousand times without knowing she hid right under their perfectly straight noses.

Nena willed her heartbeat to slow when five Fae stepped through the portal and into the alleyway. Icy rain pelted their black uniforms, but they didn’t seem phased. Bright green emblems marked their jackets over their hearts, and weapons clung to their thick thighs. They wore their hair long and straight, as was the Fae way, with braids and headbands decorated with their markings. Striking eyes in bright blue and green scanned the area.

She smirked when their gazes passed right over the spot on the wall where she hid. The king really needed new warriors to hunt and capture whomever he deemed deserving of death, since she’d outsmarted them for years.

Her eyes narrowed when the guards shifted to form a line before the portal. With rapt attention, she watched their calculated movements. What were they up to this time?

The shadow of a man appeared in the light, and she held her breath when another Fae stepped into the alley. He wore solid black from head to toe, but no weapons, and no markings. Light brown hair flowed to his wide shoulders like a lion’s mane, and he towered at least five inches over the Fae guard. The angles of his face were sharper, and full lips set in a tight frown. Gold particles hovered close to his muscular body, pulsating with strength and vitality.

Radiant, golden-brown eyes scanned the area, and lightning streaked above his head. Unbelievable power rolled off him in waves.

This was no member of the Fae guard. She’d never seen him or anyone like him before. Two of the guards stepped aside when he moved forward to assume the lead. Booted feet splashed in mud puddles, continuing toward her position.

Keen eyes pivoted from side to side, focusing on her location as if it were easy for him. A bright-white grin spread across his face, a confident grin that shook her confidence. Nena pressed into the brick as far as she could and held her breath when he stopped in front of her.

From her side angle, she traced his high cheekbones and darker brown eyelashes. Sinfully beautiful, he carried himself like he owned the entire world. His sculpted jaw and chin added an aura of authority to his presence. His skin wasn’t alabaster like the other Fae, but a hue of honey. Tattoos, or brands, or both, slithered along his neck and covered the tops of his large hands. A gold ring with a bright peridot circled one finger.

He inhaled a deep breath, his massive chest rising and falling. She squirmed a bit when tingles lifted the fine hairs on her skin. A bolt of awareness reverberated between her pussy and her breasts, and heat licked over her skin in a thousand pinprick sensations. Her eyes blinked before squinting when she realized she experienced an attraction for the enemy. A groan was on the tip of her tongue, but she caught herself before she revealed her position.  

He flinched, and she froze.

The five guards rushed to him, but he pointed toward the entrance of the alleyway. “Her magic signature leads that direction. She’s probably gone by now, but do a thorough check.”

His deep voice cascaded over her flesh, and she tensed, trying not to give her position away. A scream of frustration choked her throat when he didn’t follow his guard. Instead, he pivoted to face the wall. Golden eyes bore into the red brick, and his head tilted slightly. Her chin lifted as he searched, like he knew she was there. There was no way this smug asshole could see her.

She inhaled when an arrogant smirk lifted the corners of his lips. Panic caused her heart to flutter wildly, and her stomach to lurch with nausea. Something black concealed the gold in his eyes for two seconds. A trick of the light? It must be the overhead streetlamp reflecting in his gaze. She studied him, memorizing every feature, hoping never to face him head on because she’d surely lose the battle. His tongue slid across his bottom lip, a temptation to any woman, and her entire body ignited in flames.

This wasn’t the normal Fae.

What could he do?

What would he do?

There was nowhere to hide.

“I’m coming for you, mate,” he whispered so low she thought she’d misheard. “You belong to me, and I’ve waited a long time to claim what’s mine.”

For the first time in a long time, curiosity outweighed her fear. He saw right through the brick to the woman. How did he do that? And who was he?

“And I prefer your normal color of hair,” he teased. “Nice motorcycle. See you soon, Nena.”

She swallowed hard, expecting him to reach through the brick and yank her out by the throat like a weak animal, but he turned his attention toward the returning guard. Just before they reached the portal, he glanced over his shoulder one last time and winked.

“Oh my God,” Nena hissed, withdrawing herself from the brick wall once the portal dissipated. She needed to leave Seattle now. With her hands on her knees, she bent at the waist and sucked in great gulps of air. Intense didn’t begin to describe that encounter or the man.

Something green and sparkly caught her attention, and she scooped it off the ground. Her head turned to where the portal disappeared. “You forgot your ring!” she yelled at the asshole Fae with the wicked grin. “And how do you know what my hair color should be or my name? Or that the motorcycle is mine?”  

She half expected him to poke his head out of the air and laughed at herself when he didn’t. Nena stared at the ring resting in her palm. The stone of the Fae twinkled in the moonlight, earth and magic-their signature.

She should’ve tossed it in a garbage can, but slipped the souvenir in her jacket pocket instead. It was the first time she had kept something of theirs.

With one last glance over her shoulder, she jogged for the main street and her motorcycle. It was time to run again and run far and fast.

Want to read it? House of Fae is available on Amazon! https://amzn.to/4nDyF5Y