Shadow fae, p.1
Shadow Fae, page 1
Shadow Fae
Wicked Fae, Volume 2
Amelia Shaw
Published by Harley Romance Publishing, 2023.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
SHADOW FAE
First edition. February 6, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Amelia Shaw.
ISBN: 979-8215417836
Written by Amelia Shaw.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Also By Amelia Shaw
Thank you to my amazing team- covers by Julie Nicholls.
Edits by Carolyn at Write Right Edits.
Chapter 1
AURELIA
Could I trust the man I’d left with? I wasn’t sure, and had no idea if would he tell me the truth anyway.
Probably not.
Even so, there was no harm in asking.
I chewed my lip nervously and stared up at the huge man before me. “You won’t tell Grey where I am?”
Asher peered at me incredulously, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised. “Of course not. There’s obviously a reason you’re running from him.”
I wasn’t running, was I? And even if what Asher said was true, I had every right to run away from a bad situation. I’d been betrayed from the beginning. Grey only wanted me for a job, and he’d done whatever was necessary to bring me in, including all the lies he’d told me.
I was done with it all, him and his lies.
“I appreciate the offer, Asher. I really don’t have anywhere else to go.” That was the truth.
With that thought came a crushing loneliness. Was I making a terrible mistake going with Asher? These riders were friends with Grey, not me. So why was Asher being so nice?
None of this made any sense. I eyed him warily. “Why are you helping me run from him?”
The elevator door dinged open, and Asher put out his arm to make sure it didn’t close on us. Then he gestured for me to go out ahead of him. He didn’t answer my question, and that fact wasn’t lost on me.
The receiving room was empty. Everyone must still be down at the ring watching the horror show. Layla’s gruesome death flashed in my mind, and I shuddered. She deserved what she’d gotten, of course, but that didn’t make her death any less disturbing.
My feet pattering on the tile floor was the only sound in the empty space as we raced through the receiving room and out the front doors. The sun beat down on us, blinding me after so long in the dark. But I took in deep breaths of the crisp forest air and sighed as happiness filtered through me.
I’d loved the forest from the moment I saw it for the first time. It felt like home.
Maybe I could just run into the forest and live out my days off the land. That wouldn’t be too difficult, right? Who am I kidding?
I scanned the outside of the facility and groaned at what I saw there. Asher seriously wasn’t expecting me to get on the back of that death machine, was he?
I blinked at the motorcycle as the hulking guy moved toward it, shaking my head as I stood there. There was no way in hell I was getting on the back of that.
“If you want to get out of here, this is the only way, princess,” Asher said as he strode towards the bike, throwing the words over his shoulder.
Well, shit.
I moved slowly, taking careful, tiny steps towards the motorcycle. My heart was pounding and feelings of fear and anxiety were tinkling along my nerves.
Asher, the big brute, climbed on like it was the easiest thing in the world, and pushed up the kick stand as he waited for me to climb on.
It was this or face Grey again. My choice became no choice. “Fine, then,” I huffed. I could die on a motorcycle, but at least death wouldn’t break my heart again.
“Here.” He grabbed a helmet and handed it to me.
I put the helmet on but fumbled with fastening it. Asher chuckled before turning and securing it under my chin with his thick, sure fingers. He tightened it with a final tug, being sure to test to make sure it was on properly.
“Thank you,” I said, still wary of the huge machine. “How many motorcycles do you have? Don’t you have a car?”
“No, I don’t have a car,” he said, rolling his eyes “And I have several bikes. Though one less since we rescued you.”
He knew and I knew I was stalling. But I needed to psych myself up to get on that thing. My hands were shaking, and my breaths were more like panting.
“Sorry about that,” I said, glancing away. He’d lost his favorite bike to a fireball when they came to rescue me from Malcolm’s house of horrors.
“It’s fine, but we’re running out of time if you want to get out of here before Grey comes after you.” He raised an eyebrow at me and revved the engine for effect.
The bike rumbled ominously, the sound shivering along my spine, causing goose bumps to break out over my skin.
I blew out a shaky breath. It was now or never.
I moved to the bike and threw my leg over the huge machine. Then I grabbed onto the back of Asher’s shirt, trying to keep a little distance between us. Having a different idea, he reached back and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“You need to hold on tight, especially if you’re scared.” He chuckled.
He was so wide, my hands couldn’t touch as I wrapped my arms around his waist. Instead, I gripped the front of his T-shirt as he started the engine.
He didn’t warn me as he took off down the dirt road, he just did. A girly squeal escaped my mouth as I plastered my front to his back.
“A warning would have been nice!” I yelled over the roar of the engine.
Asher’s deep laugh was his only response.
The trees flew by at high speed and the wind rushed by, whistling loudly.
The air beat at my face until I hid behind Asher’s broad back, his body blocking most of the wind. I breathed deeply in an attempt to calm my racing nerves.
Asher’s back suddenly tensed beneath my touch.
He was relaxed until now. What’s wrong?
“Hold on, princess!” Asher’s panicked shout made me tense and grip his shirt tighter.
“What’s going on?” I peeked up over his shoulder to see a roadblock up ahead, but we weren’t slowing down in the least.
Malcolm stood in the middle of the street on the other side of the ward. I flinched.
What the fuck? How did he find me?
An iridescent shield wove its way around Malcolm and blocked any kind of escape.
I glared at him when he smiled cruelly. He didn’t care what happened to me anymore. It was obvious in the way he stood there, ready for me to crash into his shield.
The second we crossed the wards I screamed, “Stop!”
Asher skidded to a stop inches from Malcolm’s shield, and the bike slid out from beneath us, kicking dust up in Malcolm’s face.
I rolled across the dirt road, gravel digging into my skin but I was otherwise unharmed as I jumped to my feet, magic lighting up my palms.
“Run, princess!” Asher yelled.
“No,” I growled back.
I can take care of myself. I’m not helpless.
I glared at Malcolm as the purple magic glowed in my hands. “Why are you here?” I yelled.
A smirk lit Malcolm’s face. “You are mine and I have come to take you home... by force if necessary.”
“I would rather die than go anywhere with you.” I threw magic at Malcolm’s shield.
It hit the shield and bounced off, the magic crackling a few feet away from Malcolm but fizzling out without doing any damage.
Asher stood and put himself between me and Malcolm. “Run, princess,” he growled.
“You sound like a broken record, Asher. I’m not running away.” I shook my head and stepped to the side so I could see my enemy.
“Infuriating woman. I swear you’ll be the death of me. You have one choice here, Aurelia. You run now, because in a few minutes Grey will be done with the assholes in the facility and he’ll be on his way here,” Asher said.
Shit. What will I do when I have to face Grey and Malcolm at the same time?
Malcolm stepped forward and held up his hand, crackling with energy. “You will not leave. I’m taking you home with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I threw another ball of magic with the same result. “It would be a fair fight if you’d stop being a coward and drop the shield.”
Malcolm laughed. “Why would I do that when I can get the same result from behind the safety of my shield?”
“There’s no honor among the Fae,” Asher growled.
Malcolm let his electric power crackle over his palm before he lobbed it in my direction.
Asher shoved me out of the way, and I rolled across the dirt road again.
“You can’t get past his shield . You need to run, now!” Asher yelled.
He was right. I scanned the trees, searching for a good place to get lost but not finding one. I scrambled up from the dusty ground and crouched low, moving quickly to the tree line. I had no intention of being caught by Malcolm again.
He’d treated me horribly when he kidnapped me before and he had plans for the future that I would rather die than endure. I would not allow him to capture me again.
The trees swayed in the breeze as if directing me the way I needed to go. It was strange but it felt like they were guiding me. I didn’t stop to think about it, I just went. The sounds of fighting and shouting faded the longer I stumbled through the underbrush following the trees direction.
What was I thinking? How could trees possibly be telling me where to go? It didn’t make sense. “Where are you taking me?” I whispered.
I stopped to catch my breath and laid a hand on the nearest tree. It pulsed beneath my touch with urgency.
How do I know that it’s trying to warn me?
The tree pulsed again, and the urgency increased. Someone was following me, and the tree didn’t know if the presence was friend or foe. It urged me forward. I didn’t have much choice but to do as the tree demanded.
What about Asher?
My steps faltered. Could he fight alone against the Fae warrior? I wasn’t sure. He wouldn’t be able to get past Malcolm’s shield either, so why did he stay behind?
It’ll be for nothing if you don’t move now.
I followed the trees deeper into the forest. The skin on the back of my neck prickled with unease. The tree was right. I was being stalked and I didn’t know if it was by a threat.
The trees pulsed with more urgency. I stumbled in the direction they swayed and picked up my pace until I was running flat out.
I completely lost track of where I was going, running until my chest ached and I panted for breath.
I need to stop. I can’t keep up this pace much longer.
My knees buckled and I crashed to the ground on my hands and knees, sucking in huge, heaving breaths. I really wasn’t in great shape to be running like that.
A twig snapped in the distance. I flinched, scrambling up to my feet and calling magic to my palms.
“Easy, princess,” Asher said, stepping into view.
I blew out a shaky breath, relieved that it was only him. “Asher.”
“Don’t get too comfortable. Malcolm is still out there somewhere. The bastard got away.” He clenched his hand into a fist at his side.
Asher’s face was dirty and there was a cut above his brow that was trickling blood.
“Are you okay?” I took a tentative step forward.
“I’m fine, but we need to move.” He turned back towards the direction he’d come from, expecting me to follow.
“Wait, the trees want me to go this way,” I said chewing my lip.
It sounded ridiculous even to my own ears. Asher raised a brow in question but thankfully didn’t ridicule me or ask me if I was crazy.
“Okay then, we follow the trees.” He stepped forward and peered up at the trees swaying.
“Don’t ask me how, I just know they want me to go this way.” I shrugged.
“Some of the Fae have elemental magic that helps them communicate with the earth. It’s rare and mostly among the royal bloodlines.” He put a hand on my back to lead me in the right direction.
Oh, great. Just more proof that I was a royal fae. Just what I needed.
“What happened back there?” I changed the subject, not wanting to talk about the elephant in the forest. I was still holding out hope that I wasn’t who everyone said I was.
“Malcolm lost his shit when you ran and tried to go after you, but don’t worry. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.” He winked at me with a broad grin.
I was never going to know all that the riders of the hunt could do. They were a secretive bunch. They wouldn’t even tell me how they knew Grey.
My chest tightened at the thought of the shifter who’d betrayed me. He’d known from the beginning who the man was that caused all this, and he’d kept it from me. He lied to me about the role he played in my mother’s death. How could I still miss him? How did I still want to be with him after that?
I stomped through the forest with Asher by my side in silence until a tingle ran down my spine.
“Do you feel that?” There was some kind of magic here that felt familiar.
“Magic,” Asher breathed. “It’s Fae magic.”
What was Fae magic doing out in the middle of the forest? Had Malcolm found us?
Magic crackled in my palms as I continued through the trees.
A clearing came into view as I stepped beyond the trees. A shimmering door of magic stood in the center of the field, and I frowned.
“What is that?” I whispered.
Asher’s gaze snapped to mine before turning in the direction of the door. “What? I don’t see anything but trees.”
“There is a shimmering purple door right there.” I pointed and took another step forward.
The door was calling to me, but Asher grabbed my arm.
“You see a door?” he asked slowly. “It’s the door to Faery.”
“But why can’t you see it?” I frowned and stepped closer to the buzzing magic.
“Aurelia, I wouldn’t get too close,” he warned just as the magic wavered.
A gloved hand reached out of the door and latched onto my arm. I screamed as I was pulled through the misty door and into oblivion.
Chapter 2
GREY
I spun on the half-Fae. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Dan’s face had paled as realization dawned on him. What the fuck was he thinking, coming down here when he knew Aurelia would be here? I wrapped my hand around his throat and lifted him to his toes. His brown eyes widened as I cut off his airway.
“You better have a real good reason for being here right now.” I shook him roughly.
How dare he defy me?
He’s fucking ruined everything, and now my mate wants nothing to do with me. I should kill him.
My wolf growled his agreement in my mind.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
The fact my wolf was so on board with killing Dan was seriously concerning but I still had use for the Fae. I dropped him roughly to the ground and he stumbled back.
“The artifact.” Dan coughed as he bent over, trying to take in huge gulps of air.
“What about the artifact?” I snapped.
Why would he bring that up? Especially since I no longer needed it. Aurelia had changed everything. I just had to figure out how to get her back.
“It’s being moved,” he croaked.
“Does it even fucking matter now? Idiot. You drove away the only person who could have retrieved it!” I bellowed.
I threw my hands up and spun away before I did more than simply choke the moron. How could he be so stupid?
Catching movement from the corner of my eye, I grinned as Karma tried to slink away. “Where do you think you’re going?” I growled.
I stormed around the ring, careful not to cross the barrier. Zeke, one of the riders, was a master when it came to nasty little enchantments, and I wouldn’t venture inside the ring until he removed it.
Zeke wrenched Karma back with his big hand on her arm and pulled her into his chest.
“Where are you going, little witch?” Zeke grinned.
Karma thrashed against him as I prowled over to her.
“Did you think you would get out of being punished?” I grinned maliciously.
“It was all Layla,” she replied through gritted teeth as she continued to thrash against Zeke’s hold on her.
“We already told you there’s no way that’s possible, so give it a rest. Your voice is giving me a headache,” I said dismissively.
“I didn’t do this, boss. You can’t kill me. please. I didn’t betray you,” Karma wailed as Zeke dragged her to the elevator.
“Put her in the cells, I need to go after my mate.” I growled and stepped up to my private elevator.
I stabbed at the button until the doors opened.
Dan stepped in next to me and I raised an eyebrow. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“It’s my fault Aurelia is gone, and I’m going to help you find her.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
