Chapter 9

The only indicator of his fear is his scent and the peculiar way the scales on his neck flip up, like sequins brushed the wrong way. Other than that, he's a cool customer. Probably because his features are so snake-like.

Good.

I need people who keep a cool head.

Korah, I've known since I was a child. He's ninety years older than me, and much wiser. It's a trait I admire and hope to learn from him. I love him like a brother, and Jarrad loved him, too. To see my father nearly choke the life out of him...damn!

It's time to think, now that my head is clear enough for any thoughts besidesfuck that asshole of a father. And if I'm being honest, I still feel the sting of his words about mother.

I let your mother live too long.

Not long enough, old man. I've run wild my whole life, and I never meant to stop. I never meant to slow down or have anything like a normal existence. That was Jarrad's job, as the eldest.

"Damn it, Korah. This was supposed to be Jarrad, not me.He was the responsible one. He was my father's favorite. He was smart and savy and everyone liked him. He was made for this. Everyone fears me and despises me because of my power."

"Not everyone. Carter likes you well enough. Rin almost tolerates you, and she's afraid of everything."

"Our servants don't have much choice, Korah," I sigh, slumping in my seat.

"I like you, boss," Soren hisses.

"Thanks, Soren."

At least he's trying, what more can I ask? Soren was never the smartest snake guy in the world, but he's loyal and seems good at keeping his mouth shut.

I turn back to Korah.

"You knew Jarrad even longer than I did. What would he have done?"

Kyran shrugs.

"He'd have known it was coming, and he would've planned and maneuvered and gotten what he wanted. Ornearlywhat he wanted. I don't think your father would ever have allowed him to marry a man..." Kyran looks over his shoulder at Soren.

"If any word of this reaches my father's ears, Soren," I tell him slowly, "you know what your fate will be."

"Yessss, my lord. It'll be our ssssecret. I'll take it to my grave. You can rely on my...ssssecrecy? My confident -- you can be confident in my ssssecret--"

"That's enough, Soren. I'll take your word for it."

Soren nods and frowns. I'm pretty sure he's terrified of me, just like everyone else. I wish I could gain their loyalty, like Jarrad. But I always have to settle for fear.

"I think," Korah continues, " Jarrad would have accepted a betrothal to a woman, and he would've put women in your father's head that'd suit his needs best. Good matches, to be sure, but matches that'd be without passion. A woman who knew and accepted that he'd never love her, or even want to touch them. Someone willing to accept it in exchange for the life he could provide."

"While I must settle for whomever my father has chosen. A woman who'd fear every night that she won't wake the next day. That my touch will leave her in eternal nightmares. A woman who could drive a wedge between me and the love I'm destined for."

Korah puts a steadying hand on my shoulder.

"Come on, you haven't zapped anyone by accident since you were a child, besides-"

"My lord!" Soren yells.

He stares wide-eyed out the window, reaching into his jacket for his pistol. Glass shatters as the deafening boom of gunshots fill the car. But it isn't Soren shooting. The car next to us, a tan Monte Carlo, has dropped all their tinted windows to reveal four Fae soldiers, all armed. Muzzle flashes flare as they fire into our car.

Soren is hit right away. Blood spatters across my face.

I slam on the brakes and they fly past us. Their driver is quick and tries to slow down, too, but I swerve and fishtail into a U-turn. The engine roars to life and tires squeal as I gun it in the other direction.

I glance at Korah. He has blood on his face. He's already drawn his pistol and got his window down. He leans out and fires back at the other car.

Soren is hit, but his adrenaline takes over and he leans out the window in the back and starts shooting.

"We're in the middle of fucking Logan Boulevard!" I yell. "There are humans everywhere. Who the hell is trying to kill us here?"

"You know there's only one family who'd do it," Korah growls, between bullets.

And he's right. The Oleander clan. No one else has the balls, and the stupidity to open fire in a human neighborhood when humans are around. Normally, these things are limited to the Fae neighborhoods.

As it is, we're about ten minutes from a witch from Cairn showing up and making us not exist anymore. That's the kind of trouble we don't need.

The other car is already back on our ass. Whoever is driving is doing better than I'd like. I'm fucking pissed because I can't attack them physically. Whoever it is, they're definitely here formyhead. And they've chosen a good way to get it, by killing me in my car. On the streets, in the back alleys, where I can touch them, I'm unmatched. But in this beast of a car careening down the road, I feel like a sitting duck.

And my men are paying the price.

Korah and Soren have peppered their windshield with bullets. Some of them have to be hit, but they're not slowing down. I watch in the rearview as they kick their windshield out to get a clear view again.

Bastards. I'll show them who they're fucking with.

"Korah! We can't out run them. Take the wheel."

"What?"

"Take the fucking wheel!"

I don't wait for his confirmation. I open the door and leap out onto the street.

The pavement hits me hard, and I tumble a few times before I get to my feet. My clothes shred, revealing me to be the monster that I am. The driver behind us has just a moment to register what happened, and I see the whites of his eyes widen as he guns it and aims right for me.