I frown at Lia as I walk slowly over to the table, and pick up the knife.
‘Very good. Now, go over to Thalia, and slice her open from throat to cunt. And, after you kill her, Bryn, do be a good little puppet and slit your own throat, would you?’
I turn back slowly, furious at how he’s scaring Lia when she’s already upset from earlier. It’s not good for her at all!
And then I feel it, that pull from before with Locke, with Fiana.
I hear a noise of pain come from Rikoth, and, in front of me, Lia sinks down into the bed with a sigh.
Her body is her own again. She’s no longer being compelled by the fae’s power.
I turn back to find Rikoth on one knee, looking as if he’s about to retch all over the floor.
‘You’re quite the cowardly prick, aren’t you, Rikoth?’ I say with a sneer. ‘Threatening two helpless human women.’
I feel it before it opens. The Breach. Here in the room.
I look over at Lia who gives me a nod from the cot, and, as I turn back, I see its glimmer. Right behind Rikoth. He feels it too and stands up, trying to stagger away from it, but I don’t let him. I run at him, and I push him as hard as I can, straight into the Breach.
It closes immediately and I hear Lia breathe out a sigh of relief.
‘What the fuck is happening?’ a male voice snarls.
A fae I don’t know surges into the room.
I brandish the small knife in his face. ‘Get out!’ I snarl, ‘or I’ll fucking gut you!’
‘No, Bryn,’ Lia calls out. ‘It’s all right. It’s Kal. One of my mates.’
The fae in front of me looks amused, but scowls as he sees Lia on the cot.
I step backwards, lowering the knife, but not putting it down completely. I slump down on the chair by the table as the fae goes straight to Lia’s side.
‘What happened?’ he asks. ‘That wasn’t?—'
‘Rikoth,’ Lia confirms. ‘Yes. It was him. Fiana went back to the keep for him after we left. He’s been her eyes in the Underhill for years. Wreaked havoc by using that power hungry fool, Calder.’
‘Fuck!’ he snarls. ‘Are you all right, my love?’
She nods. ‘Thanks to Bryn.’
Kal shakes his head. ‘Gods, no wonder we could never get ahead of the bitch. She’s had a foothold in the Underhill the entire time.’
‘Fuck, that means none of his students will be worth their salt. He made sure of it. They’ll all need to be retrained.’ He makes a sound of annoyance. ‘They’ll probably make me do it.’
Lia chuckles, but tears come to her eyes.
‘Kal,’ she puts his hand on her stomach. ‘He tried to have Bryn kill me, and then herself.’
Kal sits on the bed and wraps his arms around his mate. ‘He’s gone, Lia, and he’ll never get to you or our family again.’
She calms visibly at his words. ‘I know,’ she says, beginning to chuckle again. ‘Never.’
Lia looks over at me. ‘Thank the Gods his skill of compulsion didn’t work on you, Bryn.’
‘Where did you send him?’ I can’t help but ask.
‘Kitore.’ Lia’s grin is vicious. ‘To the heart of the city without protection. The wards will take care of him.’
