“Guys,” I warned, but it was too late.
For two supernaturals who acted like they wanted to murder each other on the best of days, they sure didn’t have any trouble teaming up to ignore me.
As one, they sprang into action and lunged for Keradoc, and I watched with fresh horror as two bolts zinged through the air, nailing them both in the back.
Once again, my men fell to their knees.
Unruffled, Keradoc stepped swiftly past them, brushing off his shoulder. He was still dressed in his party finery—black silks and leather swirled with delicate silver and violet embellishments—and if not for the sheen of sweat on his brow and the tiny flecks of blood dotting his cheek, he would’ve looked like the perfect gentleman and host.
He still hadn’t dropped his gaze from mine, and as he approached, I felt powerless to do anything but watch… and wait.
Gone was the faltering glamour I’d seen earlier, leaving only Keradoc in its place—sharp jaw, penetrating violet eyes, sensual mouth.
Everything about him appeared kingly and entitled, his movements slow and deliberate, and in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to see the fae’s dark head on a pike.
Yet the longer he stared at me, the farther my thoughts strayed, sweeping me up again in the memory of that sensual mouth claiming mine, his hands in my hair, his cock grinding against me on the dais…
I closed my eyes and took a step back, trying to shake myself loose from the grip of those images. From the feelings they unleashed inside me, hot and prickly and terrifying.
Intriguing.
When I opened my eyes again, the bastard was still watching me, a new glimmer shining in his violet eyes.
He arched a delicate eyebrow, as if he’d been reading my thoughts.
Through the burn of my cheeks, I lifted my chin, refusing to be cowed.
The situation was grim, sure, but not impossible. Like Jax had said—if Keradoc wanted us dead, we’d be swimming with the ghouls by now. He’d already admitted he needed me for the ancestor spell, which meant I had some leverage to play with. And since the guys were still in possession of their heads, even after attempting another attack against him, maybe they had some leverage too.
It was a thin hope based on even thinner logic, but with Jax and Elian immobilized, Hudson MIA, and no other friends in sight, that hope was all I had to cling to.
He finally stopped before me, so close I could see all the shades of color in his irises. Not just violet, I realized now, but violet flecked with gold, ringed in deep indigo, the colors seeming to shift before me in an endless dance. He lowered his gaze to my mouth, and I sucked in a sharp breath, heat snaking down my spine.
Kiss me like that again, Daughter of Darkwinter, and I’ll be whoever you need me to be…
“A heroic attempt, Miss Barnes,” Keradoc said, and it took me a beat to realize he was talking about the blood magick, not my kiss. “Truly. But as I’m sure your companions can attest to—assuming their brief sojourn to the earthly realm didn’t wipe the lesson from memory—Midnight has no need of heroes.” Still glaring at me, he snapped his fingers, and several of the guards stepped forward. “Put the two fugitives in a cell. I’ll deal with them later.”
Jax and Elian groaned in protest, but groaning was about all they had the strength for. The guards grabbed them roughly. Elian coughed up more blood.
“If you still expect me to do your bidding, warlord,” I said firmly, choking back my panic, “I expect you to leave my men unharmed.”
“Your so-called men are nothing but lowly fugitives. They gave up the right to fair treatment the night they plotted with the dark goddess to betray me, defy their sentences, and escape my realm.”
I narrowed my eyes. The dark goddess?Melanthahad helped them escape?
No wonder she knew about them—knew to send me to New Orleans to ask for Elian’s help.
My mind reeled with new questions, but there was no time to ask them. The guards were already hauling Elian and Jax out, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.
“Give the order,” I said, “or all of this will have been for nothing. I don’t care what you and Melantha hold over my head. I won’t help you if you hurt them, Keradoc. That’s a promise.”
The muscle in Keradoc’s jaw ticked in annoyance, but after making me suffer through another long, admonishing glare, he finally nodded.
“Remove the bolts and dress their wounds,” he told the guards. “Keep the demon and the fae together, isolated from the other prisoners.”
“And give them food and water,” I added. “Freshfood andcleanwater.”
Another glare. Another sigh. And finally, a half-nod. “Water,” he said. “For now.”
