Page 1 of A Fate of Wings

Prologue

Rozronuuk

The Spring Court

A very long time ago

The Spring Court buzzed with energy. Unfortunately, not the kind that fed my rage demon tendencies unless there was an altercation between a shopper and a stall holder. Even if there were, the Spring Court guards rushed to quell such a thing.

My parents ran a stall every season. This was the first time they allowed me to place my gold work on their table. Mother and Father were proud of me. Working the gold helped easethe rage that always built inside me. Being a rage demon was a hardship, but one that gave us great powers. As a mere twenty-year-old immortal demon, I hadn’t developed my powers to their full strength yet. By the time I turned a hundred, I’d have honed my powers and skills. To a young immortal that seemed a long time away.

I left the stall and wandered the aisles of bustling activity. Supernatural beings from all the realms converged on these markets. The elves didn’t allow any disagreements between the races in their realm. If anyone broke that rule, then I’d heard they disappeared forever. The elves may be more beautiful than us horned and winged demons, but they had more darkness in them.

A flash of citrine fabric turned my head. I scampered after the young female. She held the hand of a woman identical to her, but the other’s dress was a blinding red. Normally my rage would love the red, but the other woman held my focus. Closer I stalked her until I was two steps behind her. My arm snatched out to grab her.

I flew through the air backward, landing on my backside.

What happened?

A woman kneeled beside me.

“Stay down, boy.”

I scowled my most furious expression.

She didn’t flinch.

“Now is not the time,” she said, drawing the hood back to reveal her face.

“The time for what?”

“To claim your mate.”

She nodded at the young woman I’d followed. They’d reached my parents’ stall. The woman in yellow lifted a golden staff with red rubies. An item I’d made.

“She’s mine?”

“Yes. Your fated mate.”

“But I must claim her.” I pushed my elbows off the ground.

She placed a hand on my chest and kept me from lifting higher. “Rozronuuk, you foolish boy. You can’t rush into claiming a siren. She’ll end you before you’ve even had a chance.”

“How do you know my name?” I scowled.

“I know everything.” She lifted her hand. “I know that one day you’ll claim your siren mate, but today is not that day.”

“When?” I hissed.

Her gaze flicked to the siren. The one destined for me.

“A long time from now.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“I’m a seer.”

I leaned closer to her. “What did you see?”