Prologue

JAX

H e watched from the shadows, seeing glimpses of her through the open window every time she passed. Everything about her was so animated, from the way she talked to the way she smiled, even in the privacy of her own home.

Her laughter was loud and unexpected, the amusing cackle echoing even with the distance. Jax closed his eyes, the sound piercing through his numbness. Warmth spread like fire through his chest, pulsating in his veins and sending ripples through his fur.

He purposely scraped a single claw, the sound too quiet to break above the surrounding dissonance. But he ached for her to look at him, even from high above on the balcony. He was drowsy, his beast taking the majority of the control. But before he allowed himself to finally slip into slumber, he wanted just another glimpse.

For her eyes to meet his, even in his beast form.

But he couldn't allow that to happen, not with the scent of her panic still fresh in his memory. She hadn't exactly liked him as the man, and even less as the beast. So he'd allow himself just a peek. That would have to be enough to sate his hunger, the strange need that had appeared the very first time he'd set his eyes on her.

"J!" Sythe barked, gesturing to a random woman amongst the chaos. They were surrounded by the sound of metal meeting flesh, so what the fuck was a civilian doing here?

"What am I, a fucking babysitter?" he snarled, but he immediately stalked toward her.

"Hey, hands off, big guy." She pushed at his larger form when he grabbed at her wrist.

He didn't move an inch, instead checking over the bullet wound with quick precision.

"I said, get off me!" She pulled her arm from his grasp.

Jax bit back his reply, his beast raging at the splash of red against her fair skin. She was like a rainbow, every inch of her coloured in a pastel shade that was almost obscene against the surrounding death. She had pink hair, braided tight but for a few hairs framing her face, and she wore a lilac fluffy jumper with a plaid short skirt in a few shades darker. Her thick-soled boots were black, but she wore pale yellow socks that were an inch longer and trimmed with fucking lace.

Her eyes narrowed at him, tracing the long scar that sliced across his face. She didn't openly cringe, but the edges of her ears reddened, drawing his attention to the sharp points. One of the Fae, likely a weaker faerie if he went by the strength of her chi.

Again, what the fuck was she doing here?

His brothers fought the group of Skulls around them, all who attacked like animals rather than the men they once were. Now they were nothing but puppets, used and abused by the same Daemon he and his brothers had come to destroy.

The stench of their decay was subtle, a rancid odour that prickled his beast. He doubted rainbow girl could even sense it, or the danger that she'd put herself in.

"Can you drift?" he asked, needing her away from the violence. She was a distraction he didn't need.

She licked along her bottom lip, and Jax locked his legs to stop him from brushing his thumb against the sudden wetness.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

Her eyes darted over his shoulder, and he turned to the side quick enough to catch an advancing blade with his own. He grunted as he shoved the Skull back, only to be tackled to the ground by one of his brothers.

"Can you fucking drift?" He growled this time, but already knew the answer. She was panicking. Add that to her weak chi, and she'd likely be unable to control any magic while under duress.

For fuck's sake.

"You're to be quiet, and do what I say," he demanded, watching as anger hardened her features further. "Now, be a good girl and stay against the wall."

She glared up at him, her height putting her just above his shoulders. It made her tall for a woman, but still unable to meet his gaze without having to tilt her head. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but he'd already turned away.

He was there to fight alongside his brothers, not babysit some random woman who'd been caught in the middle.

Yet his beast wanted to move closer, to feel her skin against his once more.

"What did I say about standing against the wall?" he barked, his sword decapitating a Skull who'd gotten too close. Rainbow girl had moved to the side, face paling at the surrounding battle.

Another Skull had appeared, shoving past him to launch himself at the faerie. There wasn't even a second's thought before Jax called to his beast, welcoming the burst of ecstasy and agony of the shift. He wasn't supposed to fight with claws and fangs, but the possible repercussions meant nothing compared to the urge to protect her.

MINE, his beast grumbled, and Jax agreed even as the memory of their meeting faded to the back of his mind. But it was too dangerous for him to make his claim, so instead he simply watched from the shadows, content to protect her from the darkness.

Because she was his mate.

She just didn't know it yet.