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“Do you want a lashing, woman?” she says, her voice turning shrill.

I smile as the servant comes closer, enjoying the power, the control.

“Congratulations, my queen,” Des says. “You’re one of the first fairies to see what my mate can do to humans,” Des says.

Mara glances away from the servant to cast a baffled look at the Bargainer. She then reappraises me, something like reluctant approval in her eyes. Meanwhile, her servant is still heading toward me, her glassy gaze fixed on my face.

I turn to face the human woman. “Clean up the vase you broke, and then return to your normal duties,” I say.

Immediately, the servant turns around, returning to the broken glass and beginning to pick the largest pieces of it up.

“Amazing,” Mara breathes.

I frown as I watch the servant girl, catching a glimpse of the reddened skin near her wrist where she was branded.

Mara did that to her. Marked her.

“How much easier it would be to control them if we had someone like her,” Mara muses. “Are there more of her kind?” she asks Des.

My fingers curve into the arms of my chair.

Human. Prisoner.Victim. That’s what I once was, what this servantis. And the fairy queen at my side is her captor, her tormentor.She’sthe one who deserves my wrath.

I turn to Mara, feeling wild. I stand, the thrill of power coursing through me. Here is an evil to vanquish, a queen to conquer, a soul to break, and a body to bleed.

In my periphery I can just make out Des tensing. My unshakable king is on edge for once. Howdelightful.

My body rolls as I move over to Mara. Slowly, I lower myself onto her lap.

“Do you mind?” I ask as I do so. I don’t care what her answer is.

Her mouth curves into a smile. “You have a mate, enchantress,” she says.

“He’s not protesting.”Yet.

She raises her eyebrows. “Then by all means.”

I see desire stoking in her eyes. Fairies, I’m coming to find, are a bit more sexually fluid than most humans.

I place my hands on either side of her head, boxing her in. I lean in close. “Why do you keep them?” My gaze travels to her neck. Her delicate neck. Such a fragile part of her body. I cannot control this woman, but I can seduce her. I can hurt her.

My nails sharpen, pricking the fabric of her couch. She has no idea that her words will determine what I do next.

“Who?” she asks, her wicked lips forming a perfect O.

“Humans,” I say. “You mark them and keep them. Why?”

A heavy hand snakes under my arm. “That’s enough fun, love,” Des says, hoisting me out of Mara’s lap.

I nearly fight him. I can practically feel her blood between my fingers.

Quieter, he whispers, “Save your vendettas, cherub.”

Rather than set me back in my seat, Des settles us both on his, pulling me into his lap. My vengeance is only curbed by the slow strokes of his hand against my side.

Mara’s low-lidded eyes watch us. “Have you heard the story of my sister?” she asks, staring at me contemplatively.

She doesn’t wait for me to respond.