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“Cats have your tongue?” She flashed a crooked smile at me, with those perfect pearly fangs showing.
I found myself opening up to her. Not a good thing, perhaps, but vampire or not, Regina was an astute and savvy diplomat. “I have no idea what to say, though I suppose you’re right about the allegiances. But as far as handling the job—we have no choice. I should have realized—Lainule dropped hints when we went to retrieve her heartstone. But without it, she would have died.”
“Sometimes you simply work with what you’re given.” Regina drummed her fingers on a console table. “My brother is waiting for you. I wanted to warn you: He is not in a good mood. Do not provoke him. He’s not stupid, but sometimes he’s impulsive, and right now the last thing we need is another complication.” She gave me a long look.
I sucked in a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s the truth of the matter.”
“You’d best attend him. If you need me, I will be right here outside the door…listening.” And that little offer scared the hell out of me.
I gave her a curt nod, then turned and entered Lannan’s study. He was behind his desk—the desk that had been Geoffrey’s—brooding. As I entered the room, he looked up at me, a scowl on his face.
“You took your own sweet time answering my summons.”
Oh yeah, this was going to be a barrel of laughs. “I’m exhausted. I was covered in blood and dirt.”
He pushed himself up from behind his desk and wandered around to stare at me. “So, I hear you are to become the new Queen of Snow and Ice. I suppose you expect this to negate my contract with you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. He was up to something, that much I could see, and he was angry, very angry.
“Nothing to say to me, lovely Cicely? Not even a thank-you for offering my house to you and your friends, for doing my best to keep the people of New Forest safe? Not even a kiss of gratitude?”
“Thank you, if I haven’t said it.” And I realized I hadn’t. Lannan was a prick, but he had been of invaluable help to us.
“A begrudging lip service, if ever I’ve heard one.” He swung around behind me and leaned in close, whispering in my ear. “A little bird whispered that you are to marry the Fae Prince. You’ll truly be the ice princess you pretend to be. But I know you better.”
I let out a long breath. I had no clue of how to answer him. I doubted that anything would calm him down.
“And don’t think that I don’t know about the ritual you did here—in my house. Bringing silver into my home? Not a good choice, Cicely. But I know you would do anything to save him, wouldn’t you?” He rested a hand on my shoulder and the lust emanating from him soaked through my body.
I shivered. It seemed to be a real question. “What are you getting at, Lannan?”
He brushed my ear with his lips. “Just that should it become necessary, I want you to think about what you would pay in order to save your lover’s life. What would you be willing to do?”
I steeled myself. I’d had enough, and though I took Regina’s words to heart, I didn’t want to deal with any more of this crap. I shook him off and turned around. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but right now, there is no need to save his life. Grieve is fine, and since the Crimson Court is interested in forging new alliances with the coming realms of Summer and Winter, there’d better not be anything disrupting his health from your quarter.”
He let out a low growl and grabbed me, pulling me to him. “I will do as I see fit and I need no upstart bloodwhore telling me what to do.”
“But I’m not your bloodwhore, and I’ve never been one.” I grimaced as he shoved me against the wall and forced his knee between my legs. “Think before you act. I know you’re angry, and I don’t understand why. You have Regina, you have the Regency and this mansion. You will soon be freed from having us under your roof. We do thank you—seriously. As much as I hate to admit it, I have to give you credit. You’ve helped us survive, and I’ll never forget that.” Nor would I ever forget him manhandling me, but that I left unsaid.
Lannan pressed against me. I could feel him harden, and for a moment, I thought he might lose control. Once again, I’d put my foot in my mouth. He slipped his hands under my sweater, squeezing my breasts, and I gasped despite myself.
“You don’t understand at all, do you, little girl? I always get what I want, and I want you. You’ve thwarted me, you’ve been oh so polite and oh so obedient. You’ve begrudged me every touch, every kiss, every offer I’ve made. You almost let me fuck you, you call me your angel of darkness…and then you run just out of reach the moment it might become real between us. You’re using him as much as you’re using me, you little cock tease.”
He had me pinned. I struggled, trying to break free, when a knock on the door took us both by surprise.
His face a mask of anger, he barked out, “Who is it?”
“Regina. We have to discuss several edicts from the Crimson Court.”
She was lying. I could feel it in her voice, which flowed along the slipstream, as sure as I knew that she was also saving my butt. But why would she? She was devoted to Lannan and wanted him to be happy, even if it came to using me as a piece of meat.
Lannan gave me a long look, his eyes narrowing. “You are free from your contract. Go to your throne. Take your crown.”
By the look in his eyes, it was obvious that he knew he couldn’t enforce a contract over the Winter Queen. He had to let me go, like it or not, but he wouldn’t give up that easily. And by his next words, I knew I was right.
“But know this, Cicely: I will never rest until I have you in my bed. I don’t care how long it takes, you will be mine. Queen or not, you’ll never be free from my presence.” He let me go then.
I quickly straightened my sweater. I stared at him for a moment. “Why do you want me so much? Is it just because I’ve said no to you?”
