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“You want to sail around? Fine. I will build you the best ship, and you can be the fae lord’s personal privateer. Protected under me. You will never know cold or hunger, and you will always be safe. Have money and riches beyond your wildest dreams.” He twisted a thick ring off his finger, holding it out to me. “Stay with me, Kitty-Kat.”

A gasp filled my lungs, seeing the gem set in the metal. It was the jade stone he had given me so long ago, that night he tried to kiss me in the crow’s nest. When I departed the ship, I had left it behind in my jewelry box.

“I’veneverstopped loving you.” He leaned over to kiss me.

A sonic boom exploded around and within me, Croygen’s presence hitting so deep I felt the burns on my bones, forcing a cry from my lips. I had felt him before, but nothing like this. My spine bowed, pain and bliss scarring my tissue. It was like I had the deepest orgasm and the most painful trauma at once, sucking all the air from my lungs, my thighs pulsing as if I could feel him release inside me.

Marked and seared, he lashed through me with his tongue and whip. A punishment and a warning. For a moment, I swore Croygen was next to me, his face twisted in rage.

“I’ll say this once.” The chain rattled against the stone across the cell, a growl bouncing off the walls. “Get the fuck away from her.”

Killian stood up, snarling at Croygen. “You don’t get a say. We are done bowing to you. Think it’s about time you met hiccupping the hangman’s noose. But I’ll leave it to Katrina how she wants you to die.” Killian’s attention was on me, but my eyes were locked on Croygen. And he only saw me.

The air crackled.

Heaving, my body shook. It was like his cock was still sheathed inside me. By his heavy glare, there was no doubt if he could fuck me in front of Killian right now, he would, punishing and cruel.

What was sick? I would let him. I craved it more than air.

“Katrina?” Killian’s lids narrowed, noticing my focus was only on the man across from me, our tie pulsing the walls. I knew he felt it too, but the denial, the wish that I would choose him, had him ignoring it.

“Is that what you want to do, Katrina?” Croygen’s voice was low and penetrating. “Want to tie me up?” His lip hitched in a sneer, his intense gaze never moving from mine. “Have me at your mercy?”

Fuck. Yes.

“Katrina?” Killian’s tone hardened, his shoulders rolling back, his eyes bouncing between us. He was waiting for me to back him up, to finally exact my revenge on Croygen.

To the man he still wanted to believe murdered my father.

But he hadn’t.

The truth ran between us like water, clear and free. He was my father’s clemency. Instead of letting him suffer, he gave my father peace. Years of believing something, of taking it as truth, were all a lie. My mind struggled to wrap around it, the devastation and need to deny still ripe on my tongue. Though it might have pardoned me from one prison, letting me love a man I thought I shouldn’t, it put me in another cage. One of shame, guilt, and heartbreak. My father committed the worst of crimes. Against all those who died that day, the family who loved and trusted him. He thought he did it out of love, but he sacrificed them in fear.

My father was my world. My hero. And learning the truth felt like a burden I couldn’t hold.

Why had Croygen kept it from me?

“Kat.” Killian grabbed my wrists around the cuffs, bringing me up to my feet and crowding my body with his. “Stop letting him deceive you.” He rumbled, gripping my face. “He’s not a good man.” No, he wasn’t, but I wasn’t a good person either. “He’s a liar.”

“No, you are.”

“What?” Killian jerked back.

“You said you’d always be there for me.” I swallowed. “But you lied, Killian. You forgot to tell me you’d only be there if I loved you back in the same way.”

Killian retreated a few steps, his frame tight.

“Your love was conditional.” I wasn’t able to stop the heartache running down my cheeks. “I understand why you had to leave, but you broke my heart too. My best friend walked out on me that night. Abandoned me.”

His jaw ticked. “You expected me to stay? To watch you fuckeverymanyou met in a bar while I had to stand there silently and take it?”

“I thought my best friend would be there.”

“And I thought mine would see the pain she caused me.” His nose flared, his violet eyes sparking. He moved with stealth, his frame shoving mine against the wall, peering down at his nose at me. “Guess we were both mistaken.” His entire air changed. “You are a fool, Katrina,” he snipped. “But I guess you got what you wanted. You finally caught the man you desired, didn’t you?” He clenched my chin. “I guess he’s worth more thananyfriendship, more than me, more than your own crew.” I sucked in at his claim. “Yes, I know exactly what you did to them. What happened to Polly and Dobbs. All because you wouldn’t let him go. Nothing was more important to you, am I right?” He pinched my chin until a cry broke from my lips.

“Get the fuck away from her!” Croygen bellowed, manacles rattling loudly.

“Am I right, Katrina?” Killian pressed down harder, getting right in my face. “Answer me!”