My heart started pounding as flickers of memories surged. Aric had been searching for the King’smortuus, believing that he could use the person to force the King to open the gateway. It wasn’t until he figured out that I’d been given the Summer Kiss that he realized I was themortuus.
“Yes,” Caden answered. “Obviously, that is information not widely known, and it needs to stay that way.”
“Obviously,” Tanner sputtered. “Especially with the Order. They would view you as a threat—”
“And that would be the last thing they ever viewed if so.” Caden snarled, and a shiver of goosebumps spread across my flesh. His golden eyes burned. “It’s not something I would do.”
Unless.
That one word wasn’t spoken, but I knew it hung in the silence between us.
And that was the moment I knew Caden’s reaction had more to do with what Aric could’ve shared with this Summer fae. Aric could’ve told the fae traitor that I was the King’smortuus. His greatest weakness that could be used to control him.
“You can’t stay here,” Caden said. “You will stay with me.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. Partly because I hadn’t thought he’d say something like that in front of Tanner and Faye, and also because he thought he could just state that and I’d go along with it.
“I’m not planning to stay here forever,” I told him. “Luce said I just need to stay the rest of the week, and then I can go home.”
“I don’t want you to live here. I want you at my place where I can make sure you’re safe. If you don’t want to go to my place, I’ll take you to yours. Luce will just have to deal with that.”
A tumbling motion swept through my stomach. Caden and I staying together couldn’t happen. I obviously didn’t have the willpower necessary to keep from kissing him within five seconds of seeing him. There was no way I could do what I needed to do if he was living with me. No way at all.
Caden’s eyes narrowed.
I squared my shoulders as I lifted my chin. “I don’t recall asking you to stay with me or giving you permission.”
“I don’t recall needing either of those things.”
“Are you serious?” I demanded, rising to my feet. “Of course, you need my permission to stay at my house.”
He glared up at me. “Under normal circumstances, yes. But when it’s to keep you out of harm’s way, I don’t.”
“Yeah, that’s not some unspoken law or something. And even if it were, I don’t need to follow it. I’m not fae. You’re not my King.”
“Um,” Faye murmured, shifting from one foot to the other uncomfortably.
“I know exactly what I am to you.” Caden rose to his full height, but he didn’t step toward me. I gaped at him. “This isn’t up for discussion.”
“That we can agree on, because you’re not staying with me.”
His smile was slow, predatory. “Then you’re staying with me.”
“No, I’m not!” I shouted. “I’m staying here until I can go home at the end of the week and sleep in my own bed—”
“I like where this is heading,” he cut in.
Tanner made a choking sound.
I stepped forward. “By myself. I’m going home at the end of the week. By myself.”
He quirked a brow. “We’ll see.”
Anger flashed through me hotly. “We won’t see crap. You’re not—”
“Okay. Let’s all take a breather.” Tanner had stood, holding up his hands. “No matter where Brighton decides to go at the end of the week, I am sure that she is not in any danger here. Aric is dead, and if what he said was true, which is unlikely, no Summer fae would seek to harm her, especially not here.”
“I will rip the skin from any fae who even has the smallest inkling of looking at her in a way I do not like,” Caden bit out.
