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“And if I don’t want to wear it?”
“I will know if it’s removed. Would you prefer one of these?” He pointed to his tattooed arm, and some of the ink fled at the attention.
Revulsion flooded me at the idea of something so permanent—at being marked by him forever. Suddenly, the necklace seemed like a really good idea. “I’d rather not.”
“Then do not take it off,” he warned me. “I can always use the bargain’s bond if you forget, but that way is rather unpleasant.”
I touched the back of my neck, remembering the prickle I’d felt when the deal was struck. “The bargain’s bond?”
“It’s like a leash—”
I narrowed my eyes. “I dare you to call it a leash again.”
“I suppose collar isn’t better?” The smirk was back.
“Getting colder,” I bit out.
“A connection,” he said carefully, still smiling. “Our lives are bound now, after all.”
“So, that’s it? You just get to claim every night forever?”
“Not forever.” But before I could cling to that, he added, “After all, you are human. There can be no bargain with the dead.”
“At least I have something to look forward to.”
“Has anyone told you that you’re delightful, princess?”
I smiled with mock sweetness. “Rarely.” I paused. “And if you die? Do I get passed down in a will or what?”
“Fae can live for thousands of years. I wouldn’t worry about it.” He sighed at my raised brows. “Death breaks the bargain for both parties. Happy?”
I shrugged. Happy wasn’t the word I would use, but it was useful information. A bargain could be broken. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And fae could die—or be killed. I thought of the other man who’d been wheeled in with Channing. I’d seen his pointed ear and thought it was my imagination, but he had been fae. He hadn’t survived the gunshot wound. Gage carried guns; so did all of his guards. If that—
“I mean, I could gift you to another court,” he added, tearing me from my thoughts. “But I’m not sure any of them deserve dealing with you.”
I bristled at the insult, so annoyed that I nearly missed what he was implying. When it hit me, I forgot how to breathe. “Gift?” I repeated, unable to hide my horror. “I don’t belong to you.”
It was his turn to shrug. “Your soul does.”
“Would you give me away?” I forced myself to ask.
“Unlikely.” There was nothing reassuring about his answer.
“Till death do us part.” I grimaced at the thought. “Why did you do it?”
He was more talkative than he’d been yesterday. Maybe I stood a chance of getting an answer.
I needed to find a way out of this bargain that didn’t involve me dying. What if he just decided to keep me here forever? What if he got bored with me? I would never be safe in the Otherworld, but what choice did I have? I belonged to Gage as long as I lived. Escaping wouldn’t help. He could summon me to him with that unstoppable magic. I felt sure of that. And if I messed up, he might go after Channing in revenge. I thought of what had happened to that man in the room last night. Gage had no issue with violence, and neither did any of the other men there. I had to find a way to not only break the bargain but also escape the Otherworld and keep Gage away from Channing.
“I have my reasons.” He sipped from his goblet, but his shoulders had seized slightly and his knuckles were white around the cup. “About this evening.”
I went cold, but I forced myself to take another bite.
“I’d like you to join me. There is a party at midnight—”
“No,” I cut him off.
He blinked several times. “Excuse me?”