His mother held up her hands. “Have at it, then. Make her feel my wrath.”
Luke straightened his coat with a tug. “Let’s talk about Elizar…”
Tanith glanced to his mother before she answered. “He’s my servant.”
“Who’s been killing women who bear a striking resemblance to Amandine Dufresne.”
“No. He’s only supposed to capture her and bring her to me. Not kill anyone. He sometimes gets confused.”
Sorcha gasped.
Luke was befuddled by those words. Had she really just said that?
He squatted on the floor beside the queen. “So let me get this straight, if I cut your throat instead of letting you go, your heir won’t say anything because I was confused by my orders?”
“That would be entirely different.”
Not really.
“May I kill her now?” his mother asked.
“I’m tempted.” ’Cause what difference would it make according to fairy logic? Killing and letting go were apparently the same thing.
Luke let out a disgusted sigh. “Why are you trying to capture Amandine and, more to the point, why were you framing me for the crimes?”
Genuine shock went across her face. There was no mistaking that. She had no idea he’d been framed for the murders.
Interesting.
He leaned forward on his haunches. “I see we have a problem here. How ’bout you send for ole Elizar and let me have a little chat with him.”
Tanith nodded slowly before Luke offered his hand to her so that he could pull her up from the floor.
It was strange how quickly she recovered her regal bearing to stare up her nose at him. Especially given the fact that she’d been on the verge of making him her bedroom pet. He was still pissed off about that.
Even in Hell, he’d had more decency than that. He’d never forced anyone into his bed. But then, it’d been Hell. All he had to do was ask if the objects of his attraction wanted to go someplace where they weren’t being tortured and they quickly acquiesced.
A large number of them had even offered themselves before he had a chance to ask.
Still, they’d all had a choice. He’d never kept anyone against their will, and he would die before he forced himself on anyone else. As demonic as he was, there were some atrocities and violations he would never commit.
“What are you going to do to me?” Tanith asked.
“I haven’t decided yet. Depends on what your Ankou has to say.” He should probably alleviate her fears, but the part of him that belonged to his father wanted to prolong her fears. Especially given what she’d done to him.
It was bad enough he hated the cold. But she’d tried to take away his autonomy. To control him, and that was where his hellhound genes took over.
He was no one’s bitch. No one would ever have sovereignty over him.
Not even his father.
Tanith quickened her steps as they neared a room at the end of the hallway. She opened a door on the left, then started to leave.
Luke caught her arm and smiled coldly at her. “I thought you wanted my company, Majesty. Why are you trying to leave so quickly?”
“I’ve business to attend.”
“But our business is so much more pressing. Please”—he indicated the room with his hand—“introduce me.”
