“Oh great. Miss Death Wish has a problem with that,” Kade sneered, rolling his eyes.
“I don’t have adeath wish,” I contested.
“You don’t need to lie. We heard about yourplans,” Kade responded, and my bones seized.
“What? How?” My face contorted into a look of shame, while Sebastian’s features twisted into a look that threatened to rip Kade’s face off for bringing the matter up.
Kade’s voice softened. Actuallysoftened. “Delani told me.”
Kohen angled a thumb at Pia.
Pia pointed at Sawyer, who simply offered a half-shrug.
“Does Archer know?” I asked under my breath. Not that it really mattered, but I hoped he didn’t.
Kade shook his head. “Not unless Delani told him. But heshouldknow, seeing as he has been ruling a kingdom meant to keep youalive.”
I parted my lips to defend myself, but there was nothing to really defend, so I just clamped my teeth together.
Kohen let his compassionate side out. “It’s okay to struggle, Maeve. Hell, you’re handling everything a lot better than I would be if I was in your place. But you should have told us you were having a hard time. We would have helped you work through it.”
Studying the creases in my dress, I lowered my voice. “I’m fine, guys, really. It just seemed like a reasonable idea at the time, all things considered.”
“Killing yourself? I could have told you that was a shitty idea if you had spoken up,” Kade fired back, his sarcasm flowing in like it had never left.
Anxiety made my veins tighten, my heart constricting more of my blood flow with each heavy pump. If we kept talking about this, I thought I might be sick. Emotional validation was a good thing, but fuck, did it make me nauseous.
Sebastian noticed my discomfort and came to my rescue, changing the subject. “We're getting off track. So back to the matter at hand, anything that has to do with Maeve is also off limits,” he ordered, not leaving any room for discussion.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I dropped to the ground, needing to sit after that emotional intervention. “Do you think Franlow will come back with us to see the Hykah?”
Sebastian ran a finger in between his eyebrows. “No. But I think he’ll send someone to go for him. In fact, I’m almost sure of it. He’ll want proof before agreeing to help us.” His gaze shot towards me with a hint of a smirk. “Nice job suggesting that, by the way. It’s not like we discussed how we weren't going to bring up any ideas that we hadn’t talked about just moments before we went into that meeting.”
“I don’t like rules. Especially not ones put in place by you,” I bantered, and the dissecting glare he gave in return had me wishing everyone else would leave.
“Don’t I know it,” he scoffed, then strode towards me. His hands secured my wrists and pulled me to my feet, then he dipped his lips to my ear. “I have a few rules for you tonight that I think you will enjoy very much, should you choose to follow them.”
Instant waterworks—and not from my eyes.
“And if I don’t?” I countered, putting my lips to his neck and ignoring the fact that we weren’t alone.
Sebastian's hand gripped my waist, pulling my body into his, holding me flush against the firm ridges of his abdomen. “Then I’ll have a very vivid memory of what my handprint looks like on your ass,” he taunted, making my breath catch in my chest.
“We can finish this conversation in the morning.” I felt his desire growing against my thigh, and without so much as glancing away from me, he demanded the others to, “Get out.”
Chapter
Forty-Four
Two days later, at dinner, Sebastian’s claim was proven correct.
“You can take Azain back with you.” Franlow brought his fork to his mouth, chewing and swallowing a bite of meat before clearing his throat to continue his sentence. “Show him this creature you speak of, and if he returns and confirms your claim, then I will help you.”
Sebastian smirked winningly. “Thank you. I?—”
King Franlow interrupted him. “But you must leave one of your own here as an…insurance policy, I suppose.”
Sebastian nodded once and folded his hands on top of the table. “Very well.”
