Page 84 of Glutton for Punishment

She tilts her head. “He simply isn’t the one who requested your company.”

Rage flares as I realize that I’ve walked right into her trap. “You forged his summons to what? Trick me into meeting with you?”

“I borrowed his authority.” She waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t be dramatic. He doesn’t mind.”

She walks to a bar built into the side of the hall and pours a short glass of amber liquid. She turns and leans against the bar in silence and takes a sip from her glass, studying me with a confident smirk.

Cleo mutters beside me, “And she called you dramatic?”

Amaya’s gaze sharpens as I tense and step slightly in front of my friend.

“Relax. If I wanted either of you dead, this conversation would be much shorter.”

That does not make me relax.

“What do you want?”

She circles slowly. Predatory. “I would like you to speak to your bonded. Call off this little crusade of his.”

I blink. “What?”

“He is making things difficult.” Her tone stays maddeningly calm. “Running around trying to gather support, whispering in corners, making overtures to siblings who should know better than to humor him. Tell him to stop.”

I huff a small laugh. So Valentine was right. “You kidnapped me to ask me to control Maddox?”

Amaya sighs in annoyance. “You don’t understand the game you’re standing in the middle of, Arwen.” She studies me. “Maddox was manageable before you arrived. Dangerous, yes—but stable. Predictable.”

Her smile sharpens.

“I wonder what is so special about his little bonded that he’s starting to make waves. Is it love?”

I don’t respond.

My mantra sounds in my head. Give her nothing.

She laughs at that. “He certainly appears desperate.”

She keeps circling.

“And desperate men make mistakes.”

“He’s trying to protect himself and his territory.” I snap.

“No,” she stops in front of me. “I think he’s trying to protect you.”

The way she says it makes it sound pathetic.

“And in doing so,” she continues, “he is destabilizing an already fragile balance.”

“Perhaps your balance deserves to destabilize. Maybe your people deserve better,” I say.

Cleo makes a tiny sound beside me that might be a laugh or a panic response as Amaya’s smile vanishes.

“You are very bold for someone so… sinless.”

I stiffen. I don’t know what her power is. Tabby and Cleo are right. This is dangerous territory.

“You think because Maddox bonded you, you matter here?” She asks, each word landing sharper.