Cat huffed as if to tell me she was on it and then padded after Rowan, casting one last warning look at Dagur. Damn, I loved that Puka.
I pointed at Dagur and then out of the hall, too angry to use my words.
Hinrik, Dagur's Light Elf brother, gaped at Dagur and then at me as Dagur stood up and headed down the hall along the wall, keeping pace with me and keeping the long dining tables between us like referees. When we reached the end and met up, I waved him through the dining hall archway just as Gradh and Conri, two of my Star's Guard, fell into step behind me. I glanced back at them, and they nodded at me. They may be fairies, but they weremyfairies and my friends. They had my back no matter what.
Dagur turned to face me as I stepped into the entry hall. “Your Highness, I—”
“Nope!” I pointed at him. “Not here. Come with me.”
I led Dagur across the massive twilight star set into the marble floor, and then down a corridor. I went into the first parlor I came to. Appropriate to my mood, it happened to be the Rose Parlor, named for the massive crystal chandelier of sparkling red and pink roses that hung in the center of the room. My guards followed us in and took posts on either side of the door. Conri, the shaggy-haired, horny (in all meanings of the word), and handsome Bargest knight shut the door and grinned at Dagur. It was not a pleasant smile. His girlfriend, the sunset-skinned Gradh, lifted her chin and flung her long, dark blue braid over her shoulder before she folded her arms across her chest.
Dagur winced, looking from them to me. “Your Highness—”
“Sit down and shut up!” I hissed at him.
He sat down.
“I'm having a very bad morning, Dagur. And you have unfortunate timing. I might have dealt better with this if . . . well, never mind if. At least, never mindthatif. I have other ifs that we need to discuss. Such as, if you touch my daughter again, I will fucking geld you!”
Dagur hung his head. “Please, Princess Seren. Rowan climbed onto my lap. I didn't entice her there.”
“Oh, now you're blaming the ten-year-oldchild?! You are fucking scum!”
He let out a sigh. “Of course, I'm not blaming Rowan. I'm just trying to explain what you saw. It was innocent.”
“Yes, onherpart, it was innocent because she didn't know better. But you're not dealing with an eight-year-old anymore. Rowan is ten now. She's . . . becoming a young lady. There are things happening with her body that are confusing her. Hormonal changes. She's having urges. I will talk to her about them, but holding her on your lap, allowing her to kiss you, and giving her presents on par with what a man gives a grown woman is not helping things.”
Dagur winced. “I know you don't see things as we do, but this is normal here, Your Highness.”
“Don't argue with her,” Conri growled. “It ain't gonna help you.”
“You understand, though.” Dagur waved at Conri. “You know this is the Fey way. I haven't done anything wrong.”
Conri just stared at him.
Gods, I love that Bargest.
Then Killian came into the room. “Babe, what the hell is going on?” He looked at Dagur and narrowed his eyes. “Is this about Rowan?”
“Shit, Daddy's here. Now you're in tro-o-o-uble,” Conri drawled.
“Why is he in trouble?” Kill demanded. “What did he do to Rowan?!”
“I haven't done anything!” Dagur shot to his feet, probably sensing the coming slaughter. “I'm merely acting as a friend. I won't do anything beyond friendship until Rowan's ready for it. I swear.”
I shook my head at Dagur, although a part of me was gleeful that he had just told on himself.
“Wait. What?” Kill looked from me to the Dark Elf. “What the fuck is going on here?!”
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to murder him.” I held up my hands.
That probably wasn't the best way to begin.
With a roar, Killian launched himself at the Dark Elf, not bothering to hear the rest of what I had to say. Dagur went down, taking a fist to the face and then one to the stomach, before I pulled Kill off him.
“All right. Ease it back, Blair.” I put my hands on his shoulders.
Ironically, seeing Killian lose it helped to calm me. Maybe because it made me feel justified and normal. Living among the Fey could twist your human morals. It's how I wound up with five husbands.
