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All three of their steps falter at the sight in front of them—me with my bloody, broken wings, the mangled headsman, and ruthless Des, who looms over the fairy. And then there’s the captive room who neither speaks nor moves as they watch everything unfold.

“Who is this?” Des asks, peering at the fae man being escorted in.

My voice is entirely human when I respond. “That’s the man who abused this woman.” At least, I’m pretty sure that’s who it is. They said they were bringing him in.

Desmond glances at me for several seconds, and I can see how hard it is for him to make eye contact. Every moment he takes me in like this, with my wings bashed in, his fury and hatred seem to double. His gaze goes to the shackled woman next to me, and he must understand a little of what’s going on, even though he missed the trial itself.

Finally, his eyes cut to the fairy being escorted in.

There are few beings who hate crimes against women as much as I do, but Des is one of them.

The Bargainer stalks forward and grabs the man by the neck. The guards around Des protest, their gazes darting to Mara. But if they think she’ll intercede, they are sorely mistaken. The Flora Queen looks content to let the events play out as they will.

Des pulls the fairy in close, again whispering something into his latest target’s ear. Whatever Des says has a sobering effect on the man. Even dozens of feet away and distracted by pain, I notice the fairy’s eyes widen and his face pale at whatever my mate is saying.

And then Des begins dragging him past the guards and toward the dais. The Bargainer all but throws the fairy to the floor in front of Mara’s throne.

“Tell your queen what you intend,” he demands.

The fairy mumbles something, his head bowed.

“Louder.”

“I will take the slave’s remaining lashes as punishment,” he says.

Mara leans forward and places her chin in her hand. “As punishment for what precisely?”

I’m not sure whether Mara’s confused about what this man did to the woman or if she’s just toying with him.

“For slee—” The fairy chokes. I’ve experienced the sensation enough to know just what—or ratherwho—is behind it.

I glance at Des, who stands over him, his arms crossed and his jaw locked. Dangerous beauty—that’s what he is.

The fairy tries again. “For having se—” He begins to stutter, avoiding the one word he’s going to be forced to say.

Five seconds later, he gives up the fight. “For…raping her.”

The previously silent room now breaks out into scandalized whispers.

Mara raises her hand. “Silence!” she says, quieting the room.

Des levels his attention on Mara. “The only thing—theonlything—saving you from death is our oath,” he says, his voice quiet.

With those final words, Des stalks back to me, his wings fanning out behind him menacingly. With his heavy boots and massive frame, he looks like some dark prince who crawled out of the abyss.

Oh so carefully, he scoops me up and strides down the aisle and out of the room.

Chapter 39

Des is silent as we leave the throne room, his footfalls echoing in the cavernous halls. The two of us are cloaked in his shadows. With every step he takes, the candles nearby him snuff out and Mara’s precious plants wither away.

“What happened.” He doesn’t ask it.

I feel him shaking with anger, fighting some impulse to rip and render and destroy. His body practically hums with the need.

“They were going to punish that human woman. She’d been raped.” I have to steady myself for several seconds through the pain in my back before I continue. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

His eyes, his stormy, tormented eyes, move down to me, and I see that a big part of him is fighting to stay mad. That if he doesn’t keep his anger right where he can see it, then he’ll have to let in all those other pesky emotions.