"You maynot," Kaan snarls.
"—it's just that we've been hosting you for days now, and while we appreciate your... enthusiasm... some of us are trying to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere?—"
"FAMILY-FRIENDLY?" Kaan's voice could shatter steel. "You're anarmoirein the FAE QUEEN'S PALACE. I guarantee you've seen worse than?—"
"The chaise lounge has children!" the armoire protests.
"The chaise lounge is upholstered fabric and wood!"
"Still. There's a certaindecorumwe try to uphold?—"
Kaan's shadows explode outward, rattling every piece of furniture in the room. The four-poster bed actually whimpers.
"That's it," he growls, grabbing my hand. "We're leaving."
"Leaving? But you just said?—"
"I said I was going to make you scream." His eyes are pure midnight when they meet mine. "I never specifiedwhere."
He drags me toward the door, and I'm laughing despite myself at the absurdity of it all—the infamous Shadow Lord, terror of the realms, defeated by judgmental furniture.
We make it exactly three steps into the corridor before I hear Banu's distinctive laugh echoing from around the corner.
"Oh gods," I mutter, frantically trying to smooth my disheveled dress while my hair has apparently decided to audition for the role of 'recently ravished'. "Quick, hide."
"Diplomatic?" Kaan's eyebrow arches. "I am the Lord of the Shadow Court. I don'thide?—"
"Then at least try not to look like you were two seconds away from defiling me against the wall?—"
"Bold of you to assume I was going to wait for a wall."
I barely suppress a laugh-whimper as Banu rounds the corner, Elçin trailing behind her with that deadly grace that somehow makes me feel like a disheveled disaster in comparison.
"Oh, don't bother hiding," Banu calls out cheerfully. "I can literally smell the arousal from here. Very subtle, you two."
Kaan steps out of the alcove with as much dignity as one can muster while clearly having been interrupted mid-seduction. "We were just?—"
"About to fuck somewhere more private?" Banu finishes helpfully. "Yes, we gathered. But before you two disappear to defile some innocent forest clearing, we need to discuss Morwanna's offer."
Elçin's storm-gray eyes assess us both with uncomfortable accuracy. "Morwanna's offer stands. Two weeks per month in the Fae realm, access to their intelligence networks, and safe harbor when needed. In exchange for..." she pauses, her jaw tightening almost imperceptibly, "my presence here. The same two weeks."
"Wait—" I start, but she cuts me off with a look.
"The terms are non-negotiable. We accept, or we lose a crucial ally."
"Then why do you look like you've agreed to your own execution?" I press.
Her expression doesn't change. "Because nothing with the Fae Queen is ever simple."
"The terms are what they are," Kaan says, his shadows still restless with frustrated desire. "We have no leverage to negotiate better, and we're running out of time."
"Exactly what I said," Banu confirms cheerfully. "Which is why I've already started spreading delicious rumors that we'll accept. Half the court thinks it's a done deal."
"Youwhat?" I round on her.
She shrugs, unrepentant. "Someone had to make a decision before you two disappeared for another six hours of athletic activities."
"It wasforty minutes?—"
