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He appeared at my door and opened it, refusing to look at me as I climbed out. He hadn’t spoken a word to me on the drive home. He hadn’t pressed the issue—hadn’t tried to force that gun on me, either.
The night had cooled considerably, but the balmy air was heavy with a humidity that prophesied rain. I leaned against the Mercedes and drank in the earthy scent.
He pushed the door closed behind me. “I suppose there’s no point in asking you to be careful this evening.”
Lach was like a busted faucet—hot and cold and constantly getting me unexpectedly wet. I crossed my arms over my chest. “That is actually a reasonable request.” I hesitated for a moment. “Will you come with us?”
He finally looked at me, his gloomy mood slipping a little.
“Not because I need protection,” I added quickly before he got the wrong idea. Because maybe he was right about the bargain—about the likelihood that I would break it. I wasn’t ready to consider if he was right about whether or not I was trying. “Just so you don’t waste your whole night smoking cigars and measuring your dick.”
He cleared his throat, glancing over at the hotel as though he had not for one moment considered coming before now. “Just take the 9-millimeter with you.”
“God, it’s not like there are random villains lurking in every shadow just waiting to snatch me up. Ciara will be there. And Shaw.” And apparently, they were both well prepared to handle any issues.
“And you will still be safer if you take the gun.”
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. “I already explained that I’m not comfortable with it.” When his scowl deepened, I added, “Yet.”
“I told you that you were a natural.” He crossed his arms, his shirt pulling against his powerful muscles.
“Being good at it and being okay with that are two different things.” I rubbed my bruised palm with my other hand. “I’m a nurse. I’m supposed to save people. Not hurt them.”
“Protecting yourself is saving someone.” His teeth clenched as his glamour lifted entirely. “You have to compromise on something, princess. So which is it—protect yourself or be protected?”
A shiver snaked up my spine, like my entire body felt my life being pulled into two directions. It would always be that way with him, I realized, and I had to decide if that was something I could live with if I didn’t break this bargain. Or if that division was as inescapable as the deal I’d made in the first place.
“Like I said, plenty of people will be with me. Nothing’s going to happen.”
His gaze coasted over my necklace, down my body, and landed on my hand, but he didn’t speak. Probably because he knew I was right. Eventually, he said, “That attitude is exactly why I’m worried. You have no idea what some of my kind are capable of, and there are dozens of fae from other courts in this city right now. You’re not really safe unless—”
“Oh. Here we go!”
“I’m there,” he finished.
I rolled my eyes. “Then come. I already invited you.”
“I can’t,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Why? Because people might get the wrong idea?” I fought to keep my voice steady. “I know I’m not your type, but who cares what they think?”
A muscle worked in his jaw. “That’s not what this is about. If I’m not around—”
“What? You want me to lock myself inside and cower in fear? Or be prepared to shoot them?” I shook my fists in the air just as the first raindrops splattered my face. I swiped at the moisture. “There’s a whole lot of middle ground there!”
“I want you to have fun!” He slammed his fist onto the roof of what I assumed was a very expensive car and dented it. He didn’t seem to notice. “I want to know that if I’m not around you aren’t being dragged into a dark corner because you take every warning and piece of advice I give you as an invitation to do the exact opposite just to piss me off,” he growled.
Because last night he had found me in a dark corner, completely blitzed on ambrosia.
“This is still about Oberon,” I realized. Did the divide between the light and shadow courts run so deeply that he couldn’t trust any of them?
“What if it is?” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I made it clear that you were not on the table, and he waited until my back was turned.”
My eyes widened, a slow smile tipping up one corner of my mouth. “You’re jealous,” I said. Not annoyed that I’d gotten a little too drunk on ambrosia. Not worried that I’d been in some kind of danger. He was jealous. Rain beat down harder, but I wasn’t leaving this spot until he admitted it. I would fucking drown here before that happened. “You’re mad that I was in a dark corner with Oberon.”
He glared at me. “That’s not what this is about. You may dance with whomever you wish, fuck whomever you wish, laugh, flirt, as long as you know what you’re doing, and last night, you were out of your mind.”
He did not get to rewrite this. Not without admitting why he was being a hypocrite. “You told me to let loose.”