Page 30 of Blood of the Fairest

The Huntsman is unflinching. "Then a lifetime of devotion will be my penance. For how gravely I have wronged you, the only sufficient repayment is my life. Do with it as you wish. From this moment on, by Eldrunia's sacred tears, I pledge utter obedience to your every word."

I swear it gets colder in this room for a second, before that same strange, tingling sensation I felt when the faerie was looking into my soul passes over me.

I know how to put two and two together. That was magic.

"Gah, what the fuck? No," I protest, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at the extremely serious Viking-like man kneeling in this room. It misses. "Take it back. I don't want you to be my magically-indentured servant. I don't want anything to do with you!"

He pauses. "I cannot take it back. Any life debt sworn by Eldrunia's tears is permanent."

"Like hell it is. Get out." Angry now, I throw another pillow. This one has better aim but bounces harmlessly off one of his broad shoulders. "Go fuck yourself."

The Huntsman's handsome features take on an expression I don't understand, but he quickly stands and leaves the room through the double doors.

I feel relieved for all of two seconds before someone laughs nearby, startling me.

"Just so you know, he's off to do just that."

I realize the beautiful Adonis has returned to the magic mirror across from the bed. I blink at him. "What?"

"You told the Huntsman to go fuck himself. As he said, utter obedience to your every word. It's nearly impossible to ignore the compulsion of such a direct command for anyone who has taken that kind of magical pledge."

"Oh, come on. As if he actually went to go crank one out just because I…"

I trail off, recalling the odd expression that had crossed the Huntsman's face before he left. Like something between urgency and…embarrassment.

Suddenly, I can't picture anything except the uncomfortable Huntsman striding through Isenmere Castle's stone halls, searching for a private spot where he can reach into his trousers to pump and bite back his groans and⁠—

I cover my quickly-heating face. "Please tell me this isn't happening."

The man in the mirror laughs at me again, enjoying this.

Sadist.

But since he's back, I slide out of bed, taking one of the silky sheets to wear like a robe on top of my rumpled dress. It's going to take a while to get over the fact that I was standing around naked and ogling my boobs in front of this guy yesterday.

First, I throw open the heavy curtains to let bright morning light flood the queen's chambers. Then I approach the magic mirror. My sleep-rumpled reflection is visible in it, but mostly, I'm just studying the man trapped inside.

Or…maybe not so trapped, considering his ability to pop up in the reflections of the puddles wherever the Huntsman took me yesterday.

"You tricked me last time we talked," I note.

"That can hardly be called a trick. After all, it did prove to me that you weren't the real Queen Reinhilde. She would never free me."

"And since I'm not Her Royal Bitchiness, you saved my life yesterday. Thank you."

Mirror Man's amusement dies away as he studies me back. As before, the prismatic effect of his eyes and hair is mesmerizing.

"You should ask yourself why."

"What?"

"Not what, why. I don't know what the world you came from is like, but in this one, it is always safer to assume that anyone who helps you has an ulterior motive."

So cynical, but I get it.

Curious, I place a hand against the glass. He just quirks a smile and mimics me. Now our hands mirror each other through the smooth, clear pane, though his is bigger.

"Not the altruistic type, huh?" I smile. "Fine, what do you want for saving me?"