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“Why, my love, I’d take it as a sign of your single-minded devotion to me.” His eyes began to glow. “It would be a highlight in my life, to be sure.”
She could not help but laugh. “You are one twisted root.”
He laughed too. But they grew quiet as they began to ride once more.
“Will you answer me a question, dove?” Adam asked as they neared their destination.
“Of course.”
His eyes crinkled at her immediate response, but his tone remained somber. “What did the oracle tell you?” When she opened her mouth to speak, he hurried on. “If it puts you in danger to reveal anything, pray keep your council.”
She wanted to kiss him again. “The oracle saw you in possession of the horn. However, only I would know how to use it. And that…” Shy heat flushed her cheeks. “That is to say, I’d only know how to use the horn when I let you into my heart.”
Adam’s face was blank for a long moment. Then his set expression broke on an indrawn breath. He closed his eyes, and appearing almost pained, he asked her, “Have you let me in, Eliza?”
Tender emotion was a lump deep within her throat. “You are in my heart, Adam.”
Nostrils flaring, he jerked his head as if her words had struck him. When he opened his eyes, they glowed with a gold light. It bathed the area around Eliza as if the sun had come out to shine upon her. His husky promise was filled with power. “That is all that I needed to know.”
The moment they set foot on Mab’s front walk, Adam pulled Eliza close. Were he to listen to his heart, he’d insist she went to Lucien’s barge and wait for his return. But he knew precisely how that would go. She’d fight him come hell or high water. And he’d not chain her spirit ever again.
He had her heart. His own swelled at the thought. It made him feel immense, powerful, terrified. She owned his as well, and he was about to literally put it into her keeping. So many things could go wrong, but he had to trust in Eliza.
Taking her hand in his free one, he felt marginally better. Especially when she twined her fingers with his and gave him a squeeze. She was his now. And he hers. He’d make that perfectly clear as soon as this was over.
“It looks wrong,” said Eliza.
He knew what she meant. Like the rest of London hiding away, the house appeared abandoned. Too dark behind those mullioned windows. But he knew who would be waiting. He held Eliza more securely.
When no one answered the front door, Adam tried the handle. The door swung open, revealing Mab’s front hall, now dark and still. He spoke not a word, but gave Eliza a look. Caution. Her blink of understanding was all he needed.
Their steps sounded small in the cavernous silence of the house.
“If you came looking for tea,” said Mellan from behind, “I’m afraid you’ll find the staff has gone.”
Adam spun himself and Eliza around. God, but his sword hand felt too empty, and he experienced the loss of his weapon anew.
“Flown the coop, as it were,” Mellan continued as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Adam was not fooled. The fae prince was wound tight. The blond length of his hair had been bound at his temples by intricate braids. An exotic counterpoint to his suit that was cut to perfection and a dark, forest green, lacy jabot at his throat. Formal attire, as though he were in a celebratory mood.
Just as Adam suspected.
“And Mab?” Eliza asked at Adam’s side. Her fingers curled around his arm as if anchoring herself to him. He approved.
Mellan shrugged as he strolled closer. “Alas, she has left this mortal coil.” He chuckled. “And lost her fae immortality as well.”
“So then St. John destroyed her,” Adam said.
Mellan stopped short, eyes narrowing, and it was Adam’s turn to laugh. “Did you think it was a happy coincidence?” It was petty to rub it in the fae’s face, but necessary. Mellan had to attack first.
“Honestly,” Mellan finally said, “he did me a service.” He turned his attention to Eliza. “I needed to control the fae. Without my sister’s interference.”
“And now you are what?” Eliza asked. “King?”
Black fangs glimmered behind Mellan’s pale lips. “Just so.”
“Congratulations,” Adam said without feeling. “And yet I do wonder why it is that you’ve been so keen to track down Eliza.” Oh, but Adam knew. Understanding sang through his blood. It all fit, and he was about to call checkmate.
Not a flicker of emotion went through Mellan. “I had thought that Eliza and I had an understanding.”
“That I would kill Adam?” Eliza scowled. “Why not do the deed yourself, and leave me be?”
“Because,” Adam said, “he wanted my sword first. Fae-made weapons are rare, true, but my sword —”
“It was my sword,” snarled Mellan, his color high. “My battle sword, stollen by a foul and God-fearing human. I was not going to send you to hell before I had it back in my hands.”
“I’m afraid to report,” Adam said, “that your assassin destroyed the sword.”
Ice crackled over the floors and up the walls as Mellan inhaled with an audible breath. “For that,” he ground out, “I shall make your death an agony.”
Now, Adam thought. Fight me now. He was not afraid of death. Not anymore. But Mellan blinked and his anger seemed to fade as he looked at Eliza. Which meant he wanted her more. Adam’s determination increased. He knew with utter certainty that what he’d planned was in the right.
