Page 114

Shaye stepped up to Daeanna and peered down at her pitiful figure. She lay on her back, his magic strapping her arms and legs to the floor. She fought against the restraints,magic blasting in streams and ribbons from her hands, her eyes blazing. Death surrounded her, permeating her energy, prickling the air surrounding her form.

“You wished for me. Here I stand. Your terms: One eve. ’Tis what you wish, aye? A single eve with me and you’ll release us from your hatred? Your attacks?”

Daeanna’s head lifted from the floor as she hissed, a beast in the body of a Fae princess.

Rabid.

“Release me. Agree to my terms, and all shall be free. I still have the other children within my grasp,” Daeanna growled.

“Aye, I’m aware. You never agreed to release them”—Shaye lowered to his haunches and narrowed his eyes on her. Red. All he saw was red—“unharmed, alive, and untouched by your heartlessness.”

“Heartless, am I? Mayhap I’ll return those pesky brats to you in pieces. Still, you shan’t receive them back—one way or another—without agreeing to my terms.”

Shaye waved his hand at her. “You don’t seem to be in any condition to try and barter with me, Daeanna.”

“And you, Shaye, can’t destroy me. To you, I’m indestructible, and I’ll haunt you until the day you’re mad enough to take your own life.” She laughed, tossing her head and bowing her back off the floor. “I shall haunt you, your measly wife, your weak family until they all destroy each other and leave you alone to grieve their loss. Only then shall I torture you until you cease to exist! I’ll be the one to deliver a blade that you’ll stab through your heart. For if I can’t have you, I’ll allowno oneto have you!”

Shaye lowered his chin and tilted his head enough to see Horano pull Moira from the stream, gasping and coughing and clinging to his old friend. Liam held Terrek, alive andwell, arms flailing but otherwise quiet in the High Fae’s arms. Thierry was helping his sister and Bryce off the floor where they landed after Moira released her magic.

A snort from the witch drew his attention back to his nemesis.

“Your stupid little half-breed wife thought a lie would weaken me. Instead, it brought you here, tome, to faceme, to cave tome.”

“I’ve not caved. Nor shall I ever cave to you. The last thing you deserve is power over me.” He scowled, the thrum of power beating against his skin. Goddess, he needed to learn to control this untamed magic. “Where’s your father, Daeanna? He is the only truly indestructible one. Where do you hide him?”

Daeanna stopped fighting the restraints, her shots of magic fizzling out. “Release me and mayhap I’ll show you.”

“Nay.” Shaye shook his head once. “Bring him here.”

“Oh? I’d think you’d wish to see the other children, safe and happy.”

“Are they?”

“Release me, Shaye. I won’t tell you again.”

“Answer my question.” He raised his brows. “And I’ll release you from the floor.”

“Aye, they’re alive.” Daeanna gave the smoky bonds around her wrists a pointed look. “Release me.”

“Shaye, don’t!” Moira yelled from the other side of the walkway. Terrek had been returned to her arms, his son safe with his beloved wife. Shaye suffused their bond with warmth, reassurance, despite the turmoil storming through every cell in his body. Her brows furrowed, her lips pulling into a frown. “Please.”

“Shaye,” Daeanna said quietly. A knowing grin playedover her mouth. “Your word. Your honor. You said you’d release me.”

“From thefloor.”

He straightened, pulling Daeanna up. He continued to feed the magical bindings around her wrists and ankles power, weighing her arms down, keeping her tethered to the marble beneath her feet. Her fingers curled into her palms and her face twisted in frustration.

“Imbecile! I’ll kill those children!”

“How? Your army lays dead where my home once stood. Your guards are a handful at best. The human woman you’ve taken prisoner using her own emotions has enough sense not to follow your direction to bring harm to innocent children.” He stepped up to her, toe to toe, and leaned close to her infuriated face. “You may be indestructible to me, Daeanna, but that doesn’t mean invisible. You tried to kill myson. Twice. You’ve tried to kill mywife. You’ve tried to kill myfamily. Do you honestly believe I would bow to your commands? Come to you on your terms? Do you truly believe I’d ever willingly place myself in your custody knowing that one eve would never be enough for you?”

“I spoke my terms, and I cannot lie. A single eve,” she snarled.

“I’m aware you spoke your terms. Which leaves me to believe you would not let me walk away from you alive.”

Her eyes flashed. He caught the stiffening of her shoulders, even as she tried to hide the motion.

“You are heartless, Daeanna. If you are willing to murder me to appease your jealousy, you would never release those children alive. I wish to see them. Now. Each one of them, starting with Chase.”