Page 507 of Flirting with Darkness

He snorted and crossed his arms, drawing my gaze once again to that powerful bare chest. “You called me.”

“You must have made quite the spectacle of yourself on the Chicago streets,” I said. “If you didn’t wear a shirt…why aren’t you wearing a shirt? I must be in a coma.”

I said the last sentence mostly to myself, but he reached over impatiently. I was surprised for a second to notice his long fingers ended in talons, more like a hawk’s than a man’s, and even more surprised when he pinched my arm.

“Ow.” I yanked away and rubbed my arm.

“Not a coma,” he rumbled. “You are wide awake and capable of experiencing pain.”

“Wow, comforting. I thought you were on my side.”

He scoffed. “You don’t want me on your side. Not here.”

“Why do you say that? Where are we, and what the hell is going on, Tor?”

“We’re in the Fae king’s castle,” he said, “and you are going to marry the prince next month. He must be married before he ascends to the throne. Hier is ready to pass the crown.”

It was my turn to scramble out of bed. As soon as I launched myself up, my head swam. Tor was at my side in a second, catching my arm.

“No,” I said in a gasp.

It couldn’t be real. This must be a dream. I grabbed Tor’s forearm, and his gaze met mine, his eyes widening. For a second, the boy I’d known looked back at me.

“You need to get ready to meet the prince,” he said gruffly, pulling away.

“I don’t want to get married. I don’t want to be here, Tor, take me back—”

He was at the door already. He looked back. “Then what were you waiting for all these years, Bethany?”

You.

The word echoed inside me, but I would ever be so stupid to say it out loud. He was a monster. He wasn’t safe. This entire world wasn’t safe.

“Why the prince?” I asked. I couldn’t bring myself to say Fae, as if that would make this madness real.

“Because he wants you,” he said simply.

“Why?” I called after him. “Because of…”

You?

“The servants will be in to help you soon,” he said. “Don’t make it difficult for them. Tonight will be hard enough already.”

I ran after him. The door closed firmly, in my face, and I yanked it open, relieved it actually opened for me. He glanced back at me, surprised, and I was startled to see how massive he looked even in these long, high-arched marble halls.

“I have questions, Tor,” I said firmly.

He cast a glance around the hall, as if people were listening. Then he said firmly, “Go inside. Stay in your room until you’re called.”

He moved toward me, the heat of his body touching mine, and a prickle ran down my spine at how he towered over me. Despite myself, I stepped back into my room.

Quietly, he told me, “I’ll explain all that I can. But I have to go. For now, be polite, be obedient, be safe.”

My lips parted in alarm.

He closed the door between us again.

I went to the windows and tried to swallow my shock, tried to calm my nerves. My legs were shaking. I clutched the windowsill desperately.

---