“No,” Maurice says and pulls a face as he settles back against the wall. “But I can imagine. The queen keeps the most powerfuland power-hungry fae in her court. Makes sense one of them would end up here.”
“He asked about the Hunt.”
Maurice snorts. “I know better than to give up information like that.”
“Maurice.”
“Njáll.”
I scowl. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”
He looks at me, considering something. “You need to feed.”
“From who?” I wave a hand, indicating the fae around the room, and all but Reijo shrink back in fear. “That’s what they want.”
“From me.”
Disappointment swirls in my gut. “That won’t help. You’re…” If he were my sire, it might; some turns feed from their sire for a while after so they can learn to control their bloodlust on sturdier prey.
But Maurice is not that, and he no longer has any fae magic in his blood. Heneedsit, the same way I need to keep what’s inside me firmly there.
“You could feed from me,” Reijo says, his voice only shaking a little.
The growl that tears itself from Maurice’s throat is dangerous and possessive, and I’m gripped by the sudden desire to haul him up against me.
“No.”
“He mighthaveto,” Reijo hisses, just as I hear footsteps above.
Maurice gets to his feet hurriedly and shakes his head when I go to do the same. Reijo looks almost as stern when I turn to him for help. He’s scared as well, and that is what truly keeps me in place. I want to offer him some small comfort, even if we all know there is nothing I can do to help.
The two fae who make their way down the stairs are ones I recognise—the selkies who sneaked up on me when I was taken. Maurice clearly recognises them too. He growls, and it is low enough that one of them stumbles, eyes going wide.
The other shakes their head, a smirk tugging at the corners of their mouth. “You’re no more powerful than he is,” they say, indicating me with a jerk of their head. “Less so, even. You’re bound.”
Maurice growls again, shoulders high and rigid. It’s true, I suppose, though I don’t like it. I’m sure neither does he.
“Come on,” the selkie says and grabs Maurice’s arm, tugging him over to the stairs.
The other remains, staring at me. “Get up.”
Maurice comes to a sudden stop. The selkie looking at me grimaces but doesn’t avert their gaze.
“Why do you need him?” Maurice asks.
“You know why,” the selkie holding his arm says. They shove Maurice harder, and Reijo shakes a little next to me. “Fucking grab him already.”
I get to my feet as the selkie approaches. They come to a sudden stop again, clearly the more nervous of the two of them. Is there something I can do with that? Unlikely.
Besides, they have Maurice, and they might be insinuating that Maurice will behave if I’m present and threatened, but IknowI’ll behave for what they might do to him. He’s already cuffed, and from the way they’ve hurt me, I’m sure they’ll only be worse with him.
“I’m coming,” I say, and the selkie still grabs my arm roughly, shoving me over to the stairs.
We’re rushed through the house and to the same living room I met Meilyr in last night. Maurice is pushed into the armchair, and I am left standing awkwardly to one side, though whenMeilyr waves a hand, the selkie pushes me closer, putting me and Maurice side by side.
Maurice eyes Meilyr with no little suspicion. It’s unfortunate Maurice doesn’t recognise him. It would be useful if we had some idea of him, some idea of what might get us out of here.
“Do you know who I am?” Meilyr asks.
