Demon Chained (Shadowfae Chronicles) Read Free Page B

my jaw, my mouth.
    I shivered, and tried not to let him see it, clenching my thighs immobile. I'd expected rage, sarcasm, violence. Not this.
    He looked like I felt. Deprived. Ravenous. Desperate.
    Oh, no. No way, Jewel. You are not intrigued. Not sympathetic. Definitely not interested.
    He stared at me, dark blood flowering in one eyeball. Dirt seeped in his hair, staining his cheek with little flecks of . . .
    My mouth dried. Bone. They were bone splinters. Psychotic male model had a hole in the side of his head. And that grime . . . it wasn't dirt. It crawled beneath his skin, like a mottled black shadow.
    Or . . . death.
    Holy cow. He'd bigger problems than one too many bullets in that pistol.
    I fought not to rip my gaze away, hide my face, do anything but look at him. Who'd made him like this? No one chose what he was. I knew what it felt like to be a prisoner of cruel whims, but Jesus.
    His mouth twisted, like he knew what I was thinking. He cocked his wrist to the ceiling, releasing me from the pistol's arc. "Go on, then. Run."
    I ran, clutching my precious bag to my hip. Wouldn't have done me any good to smoke out anyway. Straight into the lamp I'd go, leaving it there on the floor for anyone to take. For him to take, and claim me. Not on your life.
    I skidded around the doorframe, sharp heels tipping under me, and too late, I smelled blood.
    Strong fingers wrapped my wrist, pulling me upright into a slender fae body. I stared up at glowing ruby eyes, wet cinnamon-brown hair plastered around a sharp face and lean bare shoulders. His dusky skin glistened, blotted with reddish sweat. A blood fairy. The dead guy's accomplice.
    "Bauble girl?" His voice caressed, husky. Pastel purple lips curled, a sweet crooked smile made cruel by jagged fae teeth.
    Dirty-handsome-crazy number two. Spare me. At least this one didn't have a gun, not that I could feel. His body heat seared, like he was feverish, and fragrant sanguine moisture seeped from under his fingers onto my wrist.
    Memory seared my bones, the same spicy scent of a fairy I once knew and loved. But this wasn't my Javier, no matter the resemblance. It was some murdering corpse's best friend.
    I twisted my arm, but he held me, double-jointed knuckles bending impossibly backwards. "Pearls," he insisted, shaking me like he knew he wasn't getting through to me. "Gems, glass, diamonds, something, damn it . . ."
    Jewel. He meant Jewel.
    My chest constricted. How did he know my name? Some weird fairy mind-reading mojo? I didn't want anyone knowing me, or remembering me. I wanted to be free.
    "Let me go, you freak." I wriggled harder, and he jittered backwards, his skinny shoulders twitching like he wanted to flutter away but couldn't.
    And he really couldn't.
    I stared, swallowing. I hadn't noticed until now. Mind-reading bloodfae boy had no wings.
    Suddenly, I regretted calling him a freak.
    He stared back at me, black pupils swelling. His grip gentled on my wrist, blood smearing. "Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to weird you out. I just—"
    "It's okay." I didn't pull away. I don't tell anyone my name. It's too dangerous. It gives them power over me. But he'd apologized for my insensitivity. I owed him something. "You were right. It's something like that."
    He licked pretty lips, a flicker of his sharp-pointed tongue, and he turned my hand over in his, studying it like a marvel. "Brass walls. Smells of dust and flowers. It's dark and cold . . . but . . ." As if on impulse, he leaned forward and exhaled.
    His breath scorched my knuckles. My fingers numbed. Faded. Dissolved into spiraling grey smoke.
    My pulse galloped, and I jerked back. My hand recrystallized, smoky wisps coalescing with a hiss. My fresh skin tingled. Blood rushed into newly formed veins, pins and needles that sparkled my nerves with threat.
    No way. Not happening. The only one who turns me to smoke is me.
    I wanted to smash his handsome face to pulp, to grab him by that pretty hair and force his face into