The Abyss (Fae's Captive #7) - Lily Archer Page 0,3

unmoving slaver. “Good. He was a creep. And I honestly think you did his nose a favor.”

Something catches my eye, and I pad over to where I left Cenet. He’s gone. Damn him to the Spires!

“What?” Beth gets to her feet, but I quickly lope back to her.

She uses me to steady herself.

I chuff at her and use the end of my tail to pat her ass.

“Hey!” She swipes it away.

I chuff again.

“He wants you to get on.” Parnon sighs.

“Ride him?” She can’t seem to keep her hands off my fur, and I love every second of it.

I rub my face against her thigh. Get on.

“Just do it so we can get back to Silmaran. She needs us.” For the first time, Parnon speaks with real emotion. “It’s bad. What they did to her.” He looks at the mansion, fire pouring from its windows, the heat buffeting my fur. “She won’t even say all of it. But I know.” He drops his gaze. “We all know what they do to female slaves.”

Beth leans harder against me. “Right. Okay. Let’s go.” She glances at the house. “We’ve done enough here, I suppose.”

Parnon helps her onto my back. “This is the start. What Silmaran wanted. But the price.” He shakes his head.

When I feel the heat between her thighs, my purr can’t be stopped.

“Naughty kitty.” She pulls my ear, and my tongue lolls out.

“Let’s go,” Parnon grumbles and takes off toward Chastain’s home.

I follow as Beth holds onto my scruff.

“Feral Gareth is pretty amazing.” She leans down, resting her chest against my back. “Soft and strong and cute.”

Handsome. She means handsome, obviously. Not cute. She just lost a lot of blood so she’s not thinking straight.

“So cute. Like a fluffy animal doll with all this golden fur. I just want to snuggle you so hard. I mean, are you terrifying and unnaturally huge? Sure. But you’re mine. And so soft. And those teeth can rip my enemies limb from limb. What’s not to love? A cute, huge, murder-kitty.”

I huff out a breath, and I swear I can hear Parnon chuckle ahead of us. Ornate homes burn along the Cranthum streets, and slaves pour down the main avenue, all of them a jostling torrent of repressed anger. I don’t like it. Silmaran needs to step up—and soon—or her rebellion will turn into a free-for-all. With emotions this high, the slaves could turn on each other. If that happens, all is lost.

“—cutest tiger I’ve ever seen,” Beth trills in my ear.

I intend to show her just how cute I can be when I have her on her back and screaming my name. Once I’m in my fae form, she’ll know just what—

“Hey, come to think of it.” She trails her finger down one of my stripes. “Do you know how to change back?”

I stop and consider her question, then consider the fact that I don’t have an answer. Am I stuck like this?

Parnon snorts. “He’s stuck like that.”

Dammit all to the Spires!

3

Beth

We pass through the side streets and avoid most of the fray. I hold onto Gareth’s fur, keeping low against him as Parnon leads us. I’m weak, my body worn out, but Gareth’s strength is undeniable. His feral form is powerful, each muscle honed in his enormous, lethal body. He’s fluffy to me. Deadly to all others.

Parnon stops and grunts as a slave leads a handful of high fae children from the back of a stately home.

The elderly changeling drops to her knees in front of us. “Please. They’re all I have. They’re innocents.” She wraps her arms around the children, keeping them huddled against her. They’re dressed in finery, silver and gold thread running through every bit of cloth on them, but their eyes are hollow and terrified.

“Parnon, we have to help them.” I move to slide off Gareth, but the great cat shifts, keeping me on his back.

Parnon harrumphs, his eyebrows almost touching.

“Come on.” I point at the young ones. “You think Silmaran would want them to get hurt?”

He grumbles some more, then mutters, “Fine. Go.” He points down the smoke-darkened lane. “The house of Chastain will keep all of you safe. Tell others. Innocents will never be harmed. Silmaran sees all.”

“Thank you.” She dips her chin in gratitude, then ushers the children through the side street and away.

“Parnon’s a softy.” I relax against Gareth’s soft fur. “Thank the Ancestors.”

The sand man grunts and gives me a hard look. “I’m covered in blood, changeling. None of it is mine.”

I swallow hard.