City of Fae Read Free

his coat. Jerking my head up, I recognized telltale tricolored eyes of the fae, but that was where the similarity to Reign ended. These eyes were gray, like thunderclouds, and just as angry. Thin, bloodless lips stretched over sharp fae canines.
    “Hey, you wanna move?” I grumbled.
    He grabbed my wrists—hands like steel—whirled me around, and shoved me away. “Stay back, girl,” he snarled, fixing his glare on Reign.
    “Hey!” Who the hell did he think he was? I considered offloading a verbal assault when he produced a dagger from inside his coat. Curved like a grin, light glanced off the notched blade and sparked in the trail of tiny gems inset into the guard. The train lights flickered, licking off half a dozen daggers and knives strapped flush against his leather-clad body. FA, and clearly not to be screwed with.
    The doors shut and the train shuddered into motion.
    Reign sprang to his feet and backed down the aisle. Head down, glare up, he smiled and beckoned the fae with a curl of his fingers. “Nice knife, General, but size isn’t everything. Care to impress me?”
    The general’s thin lips rippled in a snarl. “Sovereign. By decree of the Fae Authority, I hereby revoke your roaming rights. You will submit, and obey, or deadly force will be employed.”
    Reign flipped him off, baiting the general into action. He shot forward, tackled Reign, driving a shoulder into his chest, and rammed him through the closed doors as if they were made of paper. Reign clamped his arms around the general, narrowly avoiding being chewed up between the train cars and spat out onto the tracks. The car shuddered, thundering through the tunnel. Reign brought his knee up somewhere sensitive. The general
oomphed
over, leaving himself exposed for the elbow Reign thrust into the back of his neck. They fought dirty, up close and personal, snarling and grunting, more like animals than men. This was personal. As the general sprawled forward, Reign pinned him down and drove a fist into his side, but it didn’t seem to have much effect. The general bucked, twisted, and brought the knife around. Reign caught his wrist, blocking the slash before it could cut across his cheek. The fae thrust his head back, cracking his skull against Reign’s chin, whipping the rock star’s head back. I had a hard time tracking their brawl, torn between wincing and watching. The general grappled with Reign and the dagger, shoving the rock star into a window. Glass smashed and tunnel-air ripe with city smells of dust and ozone blasted into the car.
    I had to do something. This wasn’t some insignificant brawl. They were out for blood. Someone was going to get killed. “Hey …” I couldn’t stand by and watch. “Stop.” Neither paid me any attention. I scanned the car and found the
Break This If Serious Shit Happens
alarm. Punching through the plastic, I snatched the handle and yanked. Brakes wailed, the car locked, and I went flying down the aisle. Pain blasted through my skull. The sharp coppery taste of blood on my tongue only worsened with the imminent threat of either throwing up or passing out. Through a murky haze, Reign’s outline blurred. Sparks of light flared off sharp edges, growls resounded, but I had no desire to watch. I could maybe take a nap, right there, on the sticky floor of the car. Maybe I wouldn’t even see tomorrow.
    A hand scooped my languid body upright onto jellified legs. Without an explanation or warning, we were outside, on the bitter London streets. A bus thundered by, splashing through a puddle, drenching me. I wanted to ask how it was possible we were aboveground, but couldn’t muster the strength to speak.
    “Where do you live?” Reign’s colorful eyes were all I could see. So beautiful, like butterfly wings. He gave me a shake and muttered a curse. “Alina … Just tell me where; say the words. I can get you home.”
    “Mile End.” I mumbled something like an address, possibly mine, and stumbled forward,