Finding out who he was had just become my next task.
Danica opened her eyes, wonder flashing across her face as she took in the ward, even though it was a colorless shadow compared to what she was likely truly capable of.
“That’s really… mine?”
“Yes.”
I reached out a hand and stroked the ward, feeling it almost snap against my tendril of power.
“You’re not trying hard enough.”
She gaped at me, and I fought not to lean down and take her mouth with mine.
“Are you serious right now?”
I would push this woman until she was the best she could be, even if she fought me the entire way. Even if I had to drag her through hell to watch her rise like a phoenix on the other side. I didn’t know where the urge came from, but I was done suppressing it. I pushed harder and snapped her ward, ignoring her curse at the headache that would be assaulting her.
“If you’re incapacitated whenever someone breaks your ward, you’ll be a sitting duck for anyone more powerful than you.”
She got to her feet, her face pale, and I gestured at Vassago who was lounging in the window seat. He nodded, turning away to find the healer.
“Thanks for the advice,” the little witch said, sarcasm heavy in her voice. She winced as she turned to leave and I reached out, catching her wrist.
“The healer is on the way.”
She attempted to shake me off. “I don’t need your healer.”
“Regardless of what youthinkyou need, you will accept my help with grace and dignity.”
Her eyes widened and my lips wanted to curl once more. I couldn’t resist poking at the little witch, if only to watch her attempt to control her indignant fury.
I was centuries old, and yet I found myself needing to know how this little halfling would react in any given situation. The thought was… uncomfortable, and I studied the witch as she sneered at me and pulled her wrist from my grasp, pacing to the window where she stared out at the city below her as she waited.
Vassago reappeared in the doorway with a nod. His gaze found the little witch, as if checking she was still safe, and I tamped down the fury that burned through me at the presumption.
The fae male was with him and I nodded at him as the witch turned back, her green eyes narrowing on his pointed ears.
“You’re fae.”
“I am. My name is Eldan, and you must be Danica. I’ve only ever seen you unconscious.”
Her eyes widened at that, and the fae shifted on his feet awkwardly. Danica chuckled at this nervousness, the sound burrowing its way deep into my chest until my claws extended, itching to rend the fae in two for being the first to make her laugh.
When would she be amused with you? When you were bonding her into servitude? Maybe when you threatened her life and the life of her friend? Or perhaps when you gave her the beginnings of a migraine from breaking her ward?
“You look like you’re in pain,” Eldan said, and the witch smiled at him. The male was light-fae, with white-blonde hair, a slender build, and a soothing countenance. He would never think of bonding a woman against her will. Would never itch to dominate her ineveryway.
And if I ripped his head off his shoulders, my alliance with the seelie king was dead.
“I’m okay,” Danica said, her eyes flicking to me. She paled at whatever she saw on my face and I mentally reached for her at the end of our bond. Her anxiety radiated through that bond and it made me… restless.
Her stubborn, sharp little chin jutted out, and the anxiety shifted to… determination. I had no doubt that the witch was planning her vengeance against me for what she undoubtedly considered my high-handedness.
Pleased with her shift from fear to retribution, I strode out the door.
* * *
Danica
