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Channing turned to him, but he didn’t advance. “Let her go.” His voice shook, his lower lip trembling. It wasn’t a demand. It was a plea. “I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll live in the Otherworld. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
I clapped a hand over my mouth, barely choking back a sob as Lach considered for a moment. His eyes found mine, and he shook his head. “Tempting, but no. Your sister is much prettier. I think I’ll keep her.”
I closed my eyes, a single tear escaping, and begged the universe to intervene.
“You son of a bitch!” Channing started toward him, but Lach just lifted his hand and studied his nails. And Channing froze. From the unnatural position of his body, I knew magic was involved.
I sighed, swiping angrily at my weepy eyes. I should have forced my brother to leave. Of course he was going to make this worse. “Lach, don’t,” I murmured.
Lach checked his fingernails, not looking at either of us. “Your concern for your sister is admirable, but I assure you, she’s perfectly safe with me.”
“Bullshit,” Channing said through clenched teeth as though even his jaw refused to move. “No one is safe with you.”
Shadows flooded Lach’s eyes, and I knew the barb had struck. “I have offered her a place to stay, entertained her, and enjoyed her company.”
I was going to kill him. There was no mistaking the implication of his words.
When Channing finally dared to speak, every word was pained. “You said you didn’t have to sleep with him.”
Lach smirked. “She doesn’t have to—”
“Stop!” I yelled, thoroughly done with both of them. “I have done nothing I did not want to do since I made the bargain with Lach.” I swiveled my attention from Channing to Lach. “And stop trying to screw with his head. This is not one of your fae pissing contests, and I am not a prize.”
A muscle ticked in Lach’s jaw like he was biting back a response. At last, he shrugged. It wasn’t quite the acquiescence I was looking for, but it was something.
“Now release him,” I said softly.
“Are you going to behave?” Lach asked my brother in a mocking tone.
Channing just stared at him.
Something snapped inside of me. “Now.”
Lach groaned and waved one hand. “Get out of here before I regret my benevolence.”
“What benevolence?” Channing wilted as the magic released him. He glowered at us as he started backing toward the door, his attention bouncing between Lach and me as if he was debating what he should do: listen to the command of the fae prince or look out for his sister.
“Go.” I sighed. “I will be okay. I can handle this dick.” But Channing hesitated, so I crossed the room and took him by the shoulders. “You don’t have to worry about me,” I whispered.
His sliding throat told me he didn’t believe a word I was saying. He’d made it one step outside, his hand still on the door, when Lach called after him, “Channing, your sister offered her life for yours.”
“I didn’t ask—”
“That doesn’t matter,” he broke in. “I will not touch you. That is part of our agreement. But I cannot stop another family from killing you if you’re stupid enough to insult them. So before you threaten another fae, remember that your sister will still be indebted to me. Have enough fucking respect to remember that in the future.”
Channing blanched as he realized what he’d nearly done. “I wasn’t thinking—”
“Precisely,” Lach sneered. “So where your sister is concerned, it’s better if you let me do the thinking.”
I was definitely going to kill him. I pointed at the door. “Channing, get out of here before you’re a material witness.”
Lach lifted a brow. “We’re back to threats?” He groaned as my eyes narrowed. “On second thought, let me give him a ride home.” He snapped his fingers, and Channing vanished.
I whirled around like my brother might reappear. “Where did you send him?”
“The best place for him. A jail cell.”
I hated that he had a point, especially until Bain forgot the insult. “You didn’t!”