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“I’m still waiting for you to convince me of your god-like powers.”

I rolled my eyes at Rasmus and his impatience. “Well, ya’re doomed to disappointment today, then. I’m going for a walk in the front yard to check the wards. Why don’t ya leave before I return? I refuse to eat dinner with a person of so little faith.”

Rasmus rolled his eyes as he stood up. “If I wanted to stay here with you, nothing you did could make me leave.”

One corner of my mouth lifted. “Are ya truly sure about that? I can be pretty forceful when I need to be.”

“I’m a foot taller and outweigh you by at least a hundred pounds. I would have a natural advantage in any fight, but I also know your magick is restricted here.”

My sigh was loud. “Every confrontation comes down to some egotistical guy pointing out how short and powerless I am. I’m sick of people thinking they’re smarter than me simply because they’re taller.”

I lifted my hand and squeezed my fingers into a fist while Rasmus continued to self-righteously smirk at me. My gaze bored into him as I moved my intention from my fist to his neck. Soon, Rasmus grabbed for his throat and fell back into his seat gasping for the air I denied him.

I smiled at his pain and shock. “Bullying is rude, and it’s no way to say thanks to someone who served ya tea. I guess I’m going to have to post a ‘no bullies allowed’ sign in the kitchen. Now go away before I get even madder.”

I slowly unfurled my fist to let my power wane bit by bit. While I did that, an explanation rolled out of me, even though Rasmus had done nothing to deserve it.

“TheTuatha de Danannbelonged to the Goddess Danu. They were her chosen people. She gifted each of them part of her goddess power so they could do the tasks she assigned them. As her first born son, my ancestor got the biggest share. The ancients would have laughed at yer petty debate about whether or not they were actual gods because they always knew what they were and felt no need to label themselves. I refuse to tolerate yer disrespect towards me and my people. I had my fill of that with Jack. A forty-year-old witch deserves to be respected.”

Rasmus gasped for breath as he dragged gulps of life-giving air into his lungs. I watched his struggles without feeling a drop of regret. When the kettle whistled once more, I turned it off and walked back to sit down across from the still recovering demon hunter. Maybe I missed his playful teasing a little, but I wanted no misunderstandings.

I was done catering to male egos. If Rasmus truly wanted my help, he was going to earn it by legitimately freeing me from this place.

After he started breathing normally again, Rasmus stared for a long time before speaking. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to bully you. I’m worried that we’re wasting precious time when we should be hunting for that portal.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Rasmus. Yer problem is a Demon portal. My problem is being punished unjustly. Until I solvemyproblem, I have no motivation to help ya solve yours. Do ya understand me?”

“Did you miss the part where you would get out of here? Even temporary freedom should tempt you after all this time.”

I sighed, and it echoed in my kitchen. The man was dense and had a one-track mind. It lowered his appeal until even my hormones shut up their chirping about his wide shoulders, nice lips, and longish hair. I had no energy or time to give to another man like Jack.

“Let me see if I can clarify my position for you. Fiona was thirteen years old when Jack put me here simply for not letting him kill the familiar I inherited, and who once served The Dagda himself.”

“Your familiar is a demon. Demons can’t be trusted.”

“Anyone ever tell ya that ya have a one-track mind? For the last bloody time, Connis my familiar, a member of my family, and my friend. He saved Jack’s life the day before I ended up here. He did it because I asked him to help my husband. Most of the time, Conn is a dog of one sort or another. But to fight the demon Jack battled back then, Conn had to assume his truest form. He revealed himself for my sake, and I will allow no harm to come to him for it.”

Rasmus snorted. “And I suppose you’ve been protecting him further by never summoning him to help you escape here.”

“Good Goddess, ya’re a stubborn man, and the answer is no. I stayed where I was put so my daughter would have as normal a life as I could give her. It wasn’t her fault she was born to a father who might one day lock her up like he did her mother.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Rasmus said.

“No, I am not. Staying here has been a very hard decision for me, but in the end it all worked out. My daughter could have been the unfortunate child of two constantly fighting parents. Instead, Jack became an extra-good father to make up for what he did to me.”

Rasmus nodded. “Okay, I get it. Everything was always about the welfare of your child. You’ve made that point very clear.”

I shrugged before going on. “Accepting my priorities is a good start to yer understanding of me, but ya’re still not seeing the big picture. When a daughter of the gods is ready to leave a place, she will leave, one way or the other. Ya don’t scare me with yer bullying threats, Rasmus. If I was a restored witch and felt like my old self again, then I’d probably help ya with yer demon problem out of the compassion I feel for all mankind. But that compassion will never be felt by a fugitive witch once she moves out of yer council’s precious reach.”

He shook his head. “Are you seriously saying you’re more than a witch?”

“I don’t know why ya’re so fixated on my ancestry. Jack knows all about me. Da explained it to Jack before we ever married.”

Rasmus frowned into his empty tea mug.

I glared at him. “Ya should ask yerself why Jack sent ya here to ask for my help instead of coming to ask me himself. Better yet, ask Jack about our pre-nuptial agreement. I took extraordinary steps to make sure Jack had no reason to fear me. Yer appearance to do his dirty work tells me that apparently, he still does. He’s afraid to face me, and the reason why makes me loathe him.”

Rasmus glowered before he spoke. “Jack’s story is nothing like yours. He’s a devoted husband. He’s eagerly waiting for you to say yes to this offer.”