“It’s good to see you again, son.”
The blindness is receding, but I screw my eyes closed, unwilling to lose this last defence against him.
“Touring hasn’t been the same without you.”
I wish I’d said, “Maybe because without me there, fixing your voice, the audience knows you’re shit.”
In reality, all that escapes is a whisper of shame-filled pain. “Don’t touch me.”
“You can look, son. I have no intention of charming you.” Lies. All lies. “We only require your absence, not your obedience.”
Nausea swells, threatening to spill. The only reason they can need me gone is because it will make Rose vulnerable.
“Don’t you touch her.” My eyes snap open, but I manage to avoid looking directly at him.
The room we’re in is obviously some disused dining room. It’s packed to the brim with two dozen guards and…
Máel.
She stands there, her hands glowing with light. So they used her to stun me, and then brute force to capture me. This was planned.
“He’s so much prettier without the animal ears,” she purrs, scanning me with appraising eyes. “Have him taken to my chambers. He can stay there while we deal with the redcap and the bastard prince of winter.”
My mind shuts down.
“Do you still want me to charm the Nicnevin?” Torrance asks, stroking the pathetic goatee he’s always been so meticulous about. “Or can I go now?”
Máel shakes her head. “She’s pathetic. In the entire time she’s been here, I’ve not seen her use even a spark of magic, and I doubt you’ll be needed now that they’ve ousted that upstart dryad.”
Kitarni too? Shit. They’ve thought of everything.
My father smiles. “Let’s not forget the small matter of my payment. We agreed, all debts are absolved, and you’ll pay off my tabs in the pleasure district.”
“Done.” Máel waves him off, and a soldier hands him a bag that tinkles with the heavy weight of blood money. “We both know they’re not going to let you back inside their establishments after your latest run. Now, get out of my court, under fae, and don’t come back.”
Torrance shrugs like banishment doesn’t matter to him. “I’ve decided that a holiday is in order. There are plenty of opportunities for a male of my talents in the Forest of Whispers.”
Sold again. All to pay off new debts while he starts a new life in the Autumn Court with no consequences, just like last time. My hands curl into fists, and I lunge towards him.
“When Rose finds out what you’ve done,” I begin. “And she will. I will donothingto stop Danu ripping you into tiny bloody pieces.”
Torrance shrugs. “Son, your defective Nicnevin won’t be alive long enough to concern me.”
I lose it. The threat of Máel’s bed is nothing compared to the idea of harm coming to my mate. I thrash, using all the strength I have to wrench myself free. Tackling him to the floor, I snap at his face like a wild animal. I’ll rip out his throat with my teeth if I have to.
Hands wrestle me back, then slam me face first into the stone tiles. Someone’s fingers tug my hair, forcing me to look up at the bitch princess.
“Muzzle him.” Máel snaps. “Quickly.”
“I’ll kill you if you touch me,” I tell her. “If Rose doesn’t do the job, I will.”
“The threats were cute, but they’re becoming tiresome.” She flicks her fingers at her soldiers, then steps over me. Her skirts brush my face, and I snarl. “I have to attend to my father, but I’ll be back to make use of you once we’re done. Hopefully, the Nicnevin takes a while to die so that I can enjoy you one last time before your death.”
Please Danu,I beg as they drag me from the room.Let me die. I would rather death in the Otherworld with Rose than spend another second in Máel’s bed.
“When the fae look back on this day,” Máel announces, her voice drifting to me even though she’s heading in the other direction. “They’ll recall with gratitude how the Summer Court saved them from the leadership of a weak Nicnevin and her Guard of freaks and outcasts.”
Forty-Three
