But I couldn’t. If, for some reason, it had nothing to do with him, I couldn’t let him find out. If he knew I had help staying alive, he might decide I’d failed my trial. And then I’d have to leave. Empty-handed.
Lugh cleared his throat as he slid further into the room. “We each have a daily assignment. It keeps the castle running as smoothly aspossible.”
Ah, so Lugh had at least keptsomeof the courtly customs. Back in London, it was the same. Some assignments were far less involved than others, but every single fae had a purpose. Mine was obviously guarding the Queen and working alongside others to keep the Court safe fromharm.
If I could do the same here, I could easily get the inside scoop on Lugh’s plots andschemes.
“You know my skill. I’m a warrior. I’d probably do best in some sort of guard role,” I saidsmoothly.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” His dark gaze swept across me, and a strange tremor went through me. “While I can’t deny your skills must be exceptional in order for you to make it through the vaults, you are still very new to our Court. You’ll find that it takes quite some time for the fae here to trustoutsiders.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “Isn’t that what I signed a blood contract for? So that you could make sure I couldn’t spill your secrets? Surely that’s good enough to put me on watch duty in a tower orsomething.”
“You’re pushy.” He strode closer, his eyes flashing. His magic seeped from his body, lighting up sparks along my skin. “I don’t likeit.”
I suddenly became very aware that I was in bed wearing nothing more than a white t-shirt and no bra underneath. At some point, Lugh had shut the door behind him, and we were trapped inside this room alone. It made my heart pound, though I didn’t know why. Sure, he was as fit as sin, but he wasscum.
As he strode closer and a wicked smile played across his lips, a strange thought flittered through me. A thought I wished I’d never had. It made me want to burn mybrain.
I was an outsider. A stranger. Lugh didn’t want to trust me, even if I’d signed that contract. Something about me must have made him uneasy. Best way to quieten hisdoubts?
I wet mylips.
I’d been approaching this whole thing in typical Moira fashion. Pissed off and eager to stab something. What if instead of communicating exactly how much I hated him, I made him think I wanted him? Right here beside me in thisbed.
“If you don’t like it,” I tried, adding a sultry tone to my voice, “why do your eyes sayotherwise?”
Blimey, that sounded like nonsense. Like something out of a cheesy porn film. Not that I’d ever watched one.Ahem.
He dropped to his knees beside my bed and curled his palm around my cheek. I shuddered, magic ripping through my gut so fast I could barely think. “You have a very purple bruise on your face. It’sdisgusting.”
My mouth fell open. That gormlessswine.
“Did you come here just to insult me?” I hurled. “Or was there some other reason you decided to drag me out of bed at six in themorning?”
His lips quirked with amusement. “What a brilliantidea.”
“What?” I shouted just as he threw the covers off my bare legs. He wrapped his hands around my ankles and pulled me out of the bed in one fluid motion. I fell flat on my bum, glaring up at him, my t-shirt hiked up around myhips.
I jumped to my feet, my body trembling withanger.
“Careful,” he said with a smile. “If you lay a hand on me, I might have to call my guards. Of which you aren’t one.” His smile widened at the furious part of my lips. “You will be joining the cleaning staff. I hope you’re as good with a broom as you are with yoursword.”
* * *
Fortunately,Lugh left before I ended up punching him right in his beautifully-chiselled face. And, as it turned out, I didn’t have to start my new cleaning duties just yet. As soon as Lugh disappeared into the hallway, Saoirse bustled inside to explain the dayahead.
“We have a party every time someone passes a trial,” she said excitedly. “I wanted to tell you last night, but I thought you’d be too pumped tosleep.”
Too pumped to sleep because of a...party? Damn. I eyed her enthusiasm warily. These fae really didn’t get outmuch.
“You’ll be able to meet everyone, and you can get a tour of the grounds.” She passed me a large black box. “Until then, you’re going to have to stay inhere.”
“So, I still can’t leave my room. What a surprise,” I saiddryly.
“Don’t worry,” she quickly interjected. “It won’t be for much longer. We just don’t have anyone to chaperone you for most of the day since we’ll all be getting ready for theparty.”
“Chaperone?” I shook my head and tossed the box onto the bed. “Don’t you think that’s going a littlefar?”
