KDBookOnline
Share Us
Bain did. “And how does your kind deal with rapists?”
The question rang in my ears, the floor suddenly unstable beneath me. Gage moved closer, his strong body bracing mine as if he sensed the sudden shift. A hand closed over mine like a warning. My attention riveted to the whorls winding over the back of it, the ink streaming down to where his skin touched mine. Gage cleared his throat. “As I’ve said before, scum like that deserve far worse.” The words sawed out of him. “Cate is new here.”
Something sparkled in Bain’s quicksilver eyes. “Ah. That explains it. Our ways must seem monstrous to you.”
I felt all their eyes on me as he dangled the bait and waited for me to bite.
Instead, I cleared my throat. “I didn’t know.”
Bain inclined his head. “And now that you do?”
“I agree. He deserved worse,” I said to everyone’s surprise, even my own. Gage glanced down at me, his expression unreadable.
Before we could debate the merits of the fae justice system further, Ciara sauntered over. “Why is no one dancing?” she demanded, then winked at me.
I breathed an inner sigh of relief, grateful for her interruption. Not only was I meeting more fae than I wanted, I was drawing attention to myself—so much for remaining anonymous. But my respite was short-lived.
Gage held out his hand. “We’ve been ordered to dance.”
I stared at his outstretched palm.
Ciara nudged me with her shoulder. “Go,” she whispered, and if I’d had any doubt about her timing, it vanished.
“We’ll join you,” Bain said, extending his hand to Ciara. Her throat slid at his implied command, but she smiled and dropped her hand in his.
I forced myself to do the same, giving my hand to her brother. I needed to get Gage to drop his guard. Dancing might help, I reasoned. But I barely registered anything as he led me onto the dance floor, every eye in the room following our every move.
His grip tightened on mine, and I tried to ignore the way my heart rate ratcheted up when he drew me against his broad chest. I slipped my arm around his waist only to discover the hard outline of his gun.
No holster tonight but tucked somewhere more accessible, as if he expected he might need to draw it more quickly. So, he didn’t trust his own guests. I couldn’t blame him for that.
His mouth tightened. “Careful,” he warned.
I moved my arm up, resting my palm on his strong shoulder, hoping I hadn’t given myself away. That gun was mine the second I found an opening.
“You’re thinking,” he accused.
“Is that a crime?” I asked. I didn’t dare look at him, didn’t dare risk seeing what was in his eyes. But looking at our audience was somehow even worse. “Do they ever get tired of staring at you?”
His dark laugh rippled down my neck and settled deep inside me. Up close, his scent filled my nose—the deep, woody aroma of cedar laced with warm spice. It smelled as dangerous as the rest of him.
“Can you blame them?” he murmured.
I snorted, determined not to fall under his spell, even if I was grateful for the distraction. “Cocky bastard.”
“There are many women who would be happy to dance with me.”
I turned my face up to give him a wolfish smile. “Why don’t you find one of them?”
“That would be rude of me. You are my guest.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. “Don’t start in again about how you’re my prisoner. I did you a favor.”
“Do you expect me to thank you?” I shook my head at the arrogance. He could spin it however he wanted, but we both knew he’d tricked me. Had I known, I might have made a different decision, tried to find another way to help Channing. Or packed my brother up and run to the ends of the earth.
“You would do well to remember that I have the power to make your life pleasant…” Gage traced a finger up the length of my spine, sending an unbidden thrill fluttering through my body. He smiled down at me as if he knew exactly the reaction that touch had produced. “Or miserable, every night for the rest of your life.”
Defiance sparked inside me, and I refused to cower from that beautiful face or his cruel manipulation. “The way I see it, I can do the same.”
He studied me for a moment, and then he laughed. The warm sound cascaded down my body and pooled somewhere low and forbidden. He leaned closer, his mouth brushing my ear. “Should I be watching my back, princess?” I tensed at how close his words hit to the mark, but he didn’t seem to notice and I didn’t reply.