Wanted by the Fae: A Fated Mates Romantic Fantasy: Magic Bound Book 2 (Magic Bound Series)

that was cold, stubborn, and demanding. He thought he knew best. Hmph. Maybe it was that royal blood he thought he had. That arrogance had been the catalyst of the demise of whatever twisted thing we had between us. He’d been unwilling to listen to me.
The part inside me that wanted him, the part I kept denying, reminded me of his kindness and sense of honor toward what he believed in, even if it was detrimental to me.
I shook my head, physically trying to dislodge the thoughts of Roark, and walked to the forest edge where Rian waited. He was the last person I should be thinking about if I wanted to keep myself calm.
I walked past Rian and stepped onto the gravel. Buildings loomed overhead, hiding us in the shadows where the forest had spat us out. I followed the edge of the structure until it crested onto another sidewalk by the main road. Lights wrapped around the trees lining the main street, creating a beautiful walkway. A smattering of cars drove down the road, stopping to let groups of people cross the street.
From what I could see, people were dressed up in a way that indicated they were headed to a bar or a club. I watched a group of women with their arms hooked with each other as they stumbled to an entrance. A bouncer opened the door and waved them in. As they flounced in, the man roved his eyes up and down the girls’ bodies in an overtly sexual way. Ew.
The scent of alcohol stung my nostrils, and I crinkled my nose. Other groups walked around, heading into different establishments, and some even lined up to get into a club that thumped with music.
I zeroed in on large red letters spelling out motel and started in that direction. A group going in the opposite direction gave Rian a double glance.
“Is she okay?” one of the men asked, looking at Annie. Damn, they probably thought we were kidnappers. Especially since Rian always looked on edge and a bit dangerous. I forced a smile onto my face, hoping it wasn’t too tight.
“My sister had a little too much to drink.” I rolled my eyes.
The stranger nodded with an understanding glint in his eyes as the group passed us. Rian smiled and adjusted Annie’s weight as her arm flopped to the side. Moments after, we arrived at the front of the motel office.
“I think you should wait here.” I motioned at his bundle.
“Very well.”
Before I opened the door, I remembered the whole money thing. Scurrying back to Rian, I asked, “Do you still have that money you stole at the diner?” His eyebrows met, and I read the question in his eyes. “Nothing is ever free in my world.”
He easily balanced Annie in one arm without waking her and reached into his pocket and handed me a large wad. My eyebrows went up. I didn’t remember it being that big. “I didn’t know what we would need.”
“No, this is great,” I said, guilt spearing me as I separated one of the crisp hundred-dollar bills and pocketed the others. A ding sounded when I pushed open the clear door. I strode into a bland room with triangle-patterned carpet. The smell of coffee intermingling with cigarettes burned my nose.
I approached the bored-looking girl with her face in her palm as she browsed her phone. Jealousy speared me—I wished I had mine. “I’d like a room.”
Her bored gaze flicked to me, and she sighed as she straightened. “Cash or card?”
“Cash.”
She did some fiddling behind the desk. “Ninety-seven dollars.”
I handed her the hundred. “Keep the change.”
She gave me a sardonic glance as she handed me a card key. “Gee, thanks. Room seventeen.”
Ignoring the sarcasm, I walked out, and the ding of the door echoed behind me.
“Let’s go,” I muttered, knowing Rian was listening for me with his advanced hearing. I was proven right when he appeared at my side. My eyes roved over the numbered doors. Thank God, it was a lower level. Sliding the card through the slot, it flashed from red to green.
I clicked the door opened, and I wanted to vomit at the smell that wafted out. It was a mix of stale Doritos, BO, and other grossness I didn’t want to consider naming. I forced down a gag and squeezed my lips together before moving to the side so Rian could step through. The only indication he smelled what I did was the slight wrinkled between his eyes. I wasn’t too keen on having him set Annie on the questionable bed, but it wasn’t like he could stand around holding her.
“Just set her there.” The bed squeaked as her weight settled.
“It’ll come easier for you, eventually,” he said conversationally.
“What?”
“The smell. There are just some things that will be more… potent than others. Believe it or not, but this isn’t the worst smell I’ve ever encountered.”
“Well, I have that to look forward to,” I said dryly. I rolled my head around, loosening the tight muscles there. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as we can.” He paused, and his gaze flicked away. “I—”
He was quiet for a long time. I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”
“It’s your decision, of course, but I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you.” He paused again as I tried to dig for patience. “Not only will you be in danger here because of your magical signature, but you will also have enemies in Faerie. Specifically, those Fae that live outside the boundary of the castle. Some are peaceful, but there are many that are not. Like the Fae that followed Roark and Sabine. The power you hold—the essence, it makes you enemy number one. If they know you have a sister… they will do their best to come after her.”
A hard thumping started in my chest. She’d be a target? I hadn’t even thought of that. I opened my mouth and closed it, shaking my head.
“Did you tell anyone that you had a