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I couldn’t stop the gasp as Killian stepped out of the shadows, moving into the middle of the passage, blocking our way.
A freak wave came out of nowhere and crashed down, spinning me around like a clothes dryer. I wasn’t capable of moving or breathing.
His piercing violet eyes shone brightly, narrowed on us. He was strong, built, in a crisp suit and styled back hair.
He was beautiful. Lord of Fairies and the Master of Death.
Under his fancy clothes was my friend, the boy I grew up with, the man I thought would be by my side for the rest of our lives. My first mate, my companion. At one time, he had nothing but awe and love in his eyes when he looked at me; now I saw only coldness and hate staring back.
If he was shocked to see us, he didn’t show it.
“Once a thief, always a thief.” His silky voice almost dropped me to the ground with emotion and memories. Killian had always been handsome, the women taking notice of him at a very young age. He got a lot of attention when he was part of my crew, and he could’ve used it to his advantage, many throwing themselves at his feet without him even trying. But he never did, nor did he like the interest, always coming to me to “save him.”
Now I realized he embraced it and had grown in his power and confidence. Everything about him was refined, commanding, and controlled. He now wore a fancy suit and shiny shoes, his hair shorter than it used to be when he was on the ship. He was a leader, a lord. Not the gritty pirate I used to know.
“You would know,” Croygen replied evenly, though I tasted the bitterness in it. He stepped closer, his gaze rolling over the boy he had saved from starvation. “Wow, look at you. All fancy now, aren’t we?”
Killian’s nose flared, his glower moving over Croygen with deep disgust. “Looks like nothing has changed with you. Still a second-rate thief…”
“Tradesman.” Croygen tipped his shoulders back. They were about the same height, but Croygen still had an edge Killian never did. “And you think because you wear an expensive suit and have a title before your name, you are above the rest of us now?”
“I am theLordof Budapest.” Killian’s eyes twitched, a sign of his anger. “I rule everyone here now. This is my kingdom.”
“Youdon’trule me.” Croygen inched forward. It was a taunt. A challenge. I knew every single one of Killian’s tells, but I recognized Croygen’s emotions threading through my veins, inching me up to them. “You forget, Killian, I know therealyou. I was the one to put the brand on your chest. I know where you come from. If your minions only knew how you really got this role—who you were before—would they still worship you?” Croygen scoffed at his finely tailored suit. “Play dress up all you want. I know the real street rat underneath.”
Oh. Shit.
Killian’s stoic resolve vanished in a blink.
“Fuck you!” He lunged for him.
It happened fast, my mind not even allowing me to think.
Mine…
Possessive instinct took over, my hand pulling a dagger I got from Dzsinn out of my boot. I slipped between them in a blink, overcome with the need to guard, to fight and kill anything coming for Croygen.
“Step back, Kill,” I gritted, pressing the blade against Killian’s throat.
Killian’s eyes widened, darting from me to Croygen, noticing how I pressed against the pirate, how I defended him. Shock turned to blistering hurt, which cut into my soul. His gaze pleaded with me to tell him what he saw was wrong.
“Kitty-Kat,” Killian whispered, full of agony. The arrogance and control he had earlier dropped away, allowing me to see the man I hurt on that rooftop, the one who kissed me and walked out of my life.
But I was hurt too. Because his love was conditional. If I wasn’t going to be his lover, then he was no longer going to be my friend.
My nickname coming from him was a blade to my heart. He had given up rights to that intimacy. “Don’t call me that.” My bottom lip trembled, liquid filling my eyes, pushing the blade harder against his jugular.
His gaze briefly went over my shoulder, then back to me, his head wagging.
“So you’re with him now?” He stared at me, wanting so badly to hear the lie. I did too. A big part of me wanted to take his hand and fall back into what we had before. Live out my life with the man who found me after my father’s death, not the villain who caused it, who never came for me. But I couldn’t speak, couldn’t tell him the words he wanted to hear.
My expression must have told him the truth. Killian shut down, his jaw clenching, rage shooting from his eyes like beams.
“You hated him. Wanted tokillhim,” he snarled, nodding at Croygen, then shook his head at me in disgust. “Guess we’re all liars and thieves here.”
“This has nothing to do with him,” I tried hard to hold back the sob in my chest. “Let us leave, Killian, and no harm will come to you.”
I might as well have sliced his artery right there, the hurt and pain I caused him over the centuries looping around my lungs like a noose.
