“What do I care for the state of your bond?” Kesk scoffed, settling comfortably in his chair. “My concern is for my friend’s happiness. And the debt he’s willing to pay in.”
“Then go find him someone he finds ‘suitable’ for a bond instead of trying to change Ever, maybe. How’s that for a fucking thought?”
Kesk shrugged, the action as fluid and beautiful as his voice was captivating. “The heart wants what the heart wants, no matter how ill advised. In truth, I had some doubts about how effective his plan to get his pony back would be. Three years? That’s not much time.”
And again, Kesklookedat him. The full weight of his attention itched, a film on Bo’s skin with no more water to scrub with.
Dried grass and hollow silence, feelings he could barely reach. And nothing of the river.
Bo glared back. He’d never been good with silence. “Past tense?”
“Oh, yes.” Kesk smiled, cruel and sharp. “You were kind enough to ruin the man, first. Such a fragile creature, our Everil. But you must have known that.”
“Fuck you. Ever’s stronger than any of you think.”
“He may have been, once. But I just saw him. He was here, and isn’t that funny? Why, he might have walked past this very room. And you didn’t even feel him.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m a fae. We don’t lie. I won’t even prevaricate.” Kesk met Bo’s eyes with uncomfortable directness, his voice making it impossible to look away. “Everil was here on my lands with Nimai. And I have never seen him so broken. Not even after the scandal with his last pet.”
Bo reached for that awareness of Ever even as they spoke, deliberate now, a tentative awareness through his frustration and hurt. The volume didn’t change. Muted. Quiet. Bo swallowed around a new lump in his throat.
“The fuck are you talking about?” It took effort to keep his voice steady and sharp. Stupid to ask. Stupid to even talk to him. Stupid to give him anything and Bo did anyway. “What do you mean, ‘broken.’ ”
“Are you unfamiliar with the term?” Kesk asked, all cultured condescension. “Broken. Shattered. Crushed. What happens when a man who has just tied himself to the person he’s spent a century avoiding is punished for that action by the one he sought to protect.”
“That wasn’t…”punishment. Except it was. He’d seen Ever flinch, gone from still to stepping back and shaking. “He’d already agreed.”
“True. Though if you’d left him with any hope of your affection, perhaps he’d have the will to fight. Instead, he’s … docile. Really, Nimai should send you a thank you note.”
“There wasn’t a fight. He made me into the reasonwhyhe went back.” Bo’s voice cracked.
“This is all I have.” Shuddering, soft words on a breath. “You’re worth everything.”
“Not ‘a fight.’ Simply ‘fight.’ ” Kesk’s voicerangwith confidence. “See, that’s always been the problem with Everil. Nimai could never break him. Not entirely. But now?”
Kesk held out a perfect, graceful hand, palm up, fingers outstretched. A shimmering image in cold white magic, of Ever in a suit, gray against a stark backdrop of ice. Eyes downcast, arm-in-arm with a beaming Nimai, the remnants of a holly crown drifting listlessly down when he moved.
In it, Nimai said something with a smile. Ever nodded, then walked away obediently.
Docile.
Not even when stiff and taciturn at Brookhaven had Ever acted like a beaten down puppet, tugged about on strings. Not once so shattered, even while telling his childhoodfriend she was Houseless.
“I…”
“Impressive trick, getting him besotted with you, playing the game of caring,” Kesk said, each word a fresh cut. The image shifted to Bo with his arm around Ever’s waist, fire in his eyes, and Ever leaning into the touch. “Telling him that you wanted tohelphim. And to finish it as you did? To wait until he felt safe with you, until he sacrificed for you, and then dig the knife in?“ Another change, a higher view, Ever’s head down, flinching, Bo furious and tearful, mouth moving soundlessly. “Bravo.”
Bo heard himself make a soft noise. Felt the bed under him, soft and giving. Stared at Ever until Kesk’s fist closed, then stared at the sidhe instead. “This isn’t– You’re twisting it.”
“No. I’m not.” Kesk smiled and lifted his hands for a slow, dramatic clap of approval. “I suppose that’s what you’re so eager to remember for the next four hours. After all, how many opportunities in life do we have to trulyruinsomeone?”
“It wasn’t a trick,” Bo whispered, his voice cracking again.
“No? That was your version of affection? Berating your frightened bond after he sold himself to save you?” Kesk laughed, hooks in it and lulling and beautiful and cruel. “Say what you will about the fae, but even at her most cross, Veroni wouldn’t subject me to that kind of ruthless handling.”
“I’m not going to talk to you anymore,” Bo managed to say, loud enough to be almost normal. Through the bond, nothing but echoes and echoes and echoes. His fault. “Be helpful and kindly fuck off.”
