Her relief was palpable for a moment. Before she decided to fight. She kicked out at him, and he swiped her leg back down.
Then he leaned in, grasping the nape of her neck until she settled, her gaze furious as she glared. “If you make one sound, I swear to God I will gag you,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m not bluffing. Read my face.”
She did, and if anything, her glare got hotter.
The need to kiss her, to subdue that defiance, was a physical burn. Instead, he released her and stomped out of the room, shutting the door just as loudly this time. Finally, he faced Niall again. “My brother for your…mate. You have two seconds to make up your mind.”
* * * *
Mercy fought against the restraints, using all her strength and finally her teeth. How had he secured her so easily with just one belt? Once she got free, she was going to kick Logan Kyllwood so hard in the balls that he’d never procreate. Which was a good thing. One of him in this world was too many.
How dare he.
And she’d get even for the fright he’d given her, too. As he’d stood there with the thick belt in his hands, it had seemed he’d been contemplating using it on her. He’d let her think that for several seconds. Payback was going to hurt him.
She was almost free from the leather when he walked calmly back into the room and shut the door.
He leaned back against it and crossed his strong arms. “You’re almost free,” he said, his voice way too mild.
His tone caught her, and she stilled like any prey sensing danger. “You’re a dick.” So much for caution.
“Whose idea was it for you to seduce me to my death?” he asked, his eyes a dangerous hue of green. One she hadn’t seen before.
She swallowed over a sudden lump in her throat. “I’m not answering you until this belt is off me.”
“The belt is either on your wrists or across your ass. It’s up to you.” His jaw hardened.
She blinked so rapidly her eyes started to itch. Then she stilled. Was he bluffing? It was getting harder to tell. Had she finally pushed him too far? Wait a minute. She hadn’t done anything. Not really. Well, not in the last few hours. “Did you find your brother?” Maybe a change of topic was wise.
“No.” The muscles in Logan’s arms flexed.
Oh. Well. Hmm. “I’m sure he’s okay.” But she wasn’t sure—not at all. “If you’d let me talk to Niall again, maybe I can get him to cooperate.”
“He has already agreed to trade you for Sam,” Logan said.
Why did that hurt? She and Logan couldn’t be together, and she knew that, so why did her chest suddenly ache?
“But I’m not trading you,” he finished.
Her heart leapt. Then she shook her head. “That makes no sense. You have to trade me.” Her own people wouldn’t hurt her. She was one of the special ten.
“No.” Logan’s frown would’ve scared even the most seasoned of warriors. “Are you in danger from Niall or your leaders?”
She shook her head. “Not really. It was my idea to kidnap you because I wanted to help you get somewhere safe. Niall won’t be too mad, I don’t think.”
“Do you care about him?” Logan asked.
Her eyebrows rose even as the question registered. “Why?”
“Answer me.”
She tugged again on the belt, and it got a little looser. “My personal life is none of your business. We’ve already established that fact.” She had her whole nation counting on her to mate Niall. It was a shame that the guy was way too rigid and bound to the rules. But at least she felt somewhat in control when around him—unlike her feelings with Logan. He definedcontrol. “Let me free.”
He moved closer then, his scent of cedar and pine and wildness filling her senses. His hands gentle, he removed the belt and slowly wrapped it around his waist, buckling it with a loud clack.
She jumped.
Challenge filled his otherworldly eyes. He cupped the side of her face, the mark on his palm rough against her skin. He leaned in, and she stopped breathing. “Does he make you feel like this?” Logan’s mouth brushed hers.
