I raced toward the hallway, colliding with the doorframe on my way to get to them before they reached the top of the stairs. My stupid bloody skirt caught on my stupid bloody slipper, and I nearly toppled headfirst into stupid bloody Rían.
I caught Rían’s hand, tugging him away from Keelynn. “Marissa will need something to sleep in, and your night dresses will be far too slim.”
Keelynn shrugged, said goodnight with a little wave, and drifted off toward her chambers.
Instead of bringing him to the spare bedroom, I led him into mine. The moment the door closed, I whirled. “This has gone on long enough. You need to go away. Now.”
He flicked his wrist but didn’t evanesce. “Looks like you’re stuck with me a little while longer. Could you imagine what would happen if it never came back and I had to stay here forever?” His grating chuckle made me want to slap him.
“I can’t think of anything worse.”
He tugged one of my curls, letting it spring back against my cheek. “She’s feisty when she’s drunk. I like it.”
When I tried to prop my fists on my hips, they slipped. “I’m not drunk.”
“I’ve known my fair share of drunk women, and you, my dear, are sozzled.” He flicked me on the nose. “Now, if the drunk lady would kindly show me to the spare room, I would like to get out of this feckin’ corset.” Wincing, he dragged a hand across the boning at his waist.
“You’re not staying in the spare room. You can stay here.” I grabbed my favorite pillow from beneath the quilt. “I’ll take the spare room. But you must promise not to leave this chamber.”
His grin widened. “I promise.”
“I mean it, Rían. You must swear on your own life that you will not set one foot out of this room.”
“I swear.”
He was lying.Dammit. How was I going to ensure he didn’t go near my sister? The moment I left the room, he’d probably evanesce right into her chamber and use his fae “charms” to woo her into heaven knows what.
I threw the pillow at his smirking face and stomped to my armoire to drag out two sleeping gowns. If I’d owned a pair of iron chains, I’d have chained him up in the closet. “Change into this. You can sleep on my floor.”
“I’m not sleeping on a floor when there’s a perfectly good bed right there.”
“You’re not sleeping with me.”
“Not drunk, my arse,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “You’re sleeping in the spare bedroom, remember?”
“It is clear that I cannot trust you to stay on your own. I will stay here all night and guard you.”I held the night dress toward him. When he didn’t take it, I tossed it at him.
He caught it, balled it up, and threw it back. “I don’t need a guard. Show me to the spare room, and I will be gone by morning.”
“I don’t trust you!”
My furniture rattled as if in the tremors of an earthquake. He was no longer Lady Marissa but Rían, eyes glowing with barely contained rage. “Then let’s call this whole thing off.”
“Fine.” He wouldn’t hold me hostage any longer. “What do I need you for, anyway? I will simply ask Meranda to get a message to your brother and bargain with him instead.” Perhaps I’d ask him to do it tonight, so I didn’t have to go through with any more of the wedding planning.
Rían’s lips twisted into a vicious smile. “I’m sure Tadhg would be more than happy to oblige. Although I can’t help but wonder what poor Padraig would say if he learned you were off bargaining with the Gancanagh.” Folding his arms over his chest, he tapped his pointed chin. “Speaking of Padraig, wouldn’t it be a pity if someone were to tell the Airren authorities that your beloved coachman has been using an illegal glamour for the last three decades?”
No. . .Padraig. . . “You wouldn’t.”
“Would I not?” he sneered.
How could I have believed for one second that I held the upper hand? That I had any bargaining power? I had come to him empty handed and desperate, and he was using that desperation to keep me beneath his thumb. What a fool I’d been, inviting the monster back into my life when he’d turned his sights elsewhere.
Rían stepped so close, I could see his pupils dilate. “Now, where is that spare room?”
“You’re not sleeping there. You’re sleeping here.” I snatched up the fallen night dress and brought it behind the changing screen. Once I’d changed and layered on my dressing gown, I avoided looking at Rían as he settled himself beneath my covers.
He’d draped his waistcoat and cravat over the edge of my chair. His boots waited by the fireplace. He was still in his shirt, and since I couldn’t see them, I assumed he still wore his breeches as well.