Page 33 of Kiss the Filthiest King

He groans. “By all the gods, truly? Didn’t Darina just tell you what it meant to thank one of the folk?”

“Oh, god.” My heart skips a beat. Seriously, how could I say those words after all I’ve heard? But they just slipped out. It’s goddamned politeness. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“You said it anyway.” The fae sighs, leaning against a sole high-backed armchair.

Darina’s, presumably. It’s not a throne, but the place it occupies—on a dais, at the center of the ballroom—makes its status evident.

“Are you going to enslave me?” I whisper.

He only snorts.

“You told my sister to send me away,” I push. “You could force me to go, now, couldn’t you?'“

“I did tell her that. You’re a liability. And a fool.”

I bite back a retort, wishing I could contradict him. But I’ve already proven that he had a point.

And the thing is, I dislike him. I dislike Ryther. They both gave me reasons to, but I’m self-aware enough to realize I wouldn’t have been fond of either of them in any case. Part of me hated Loch as soon as I heard what Rina did for him. I’ve always been jealous of my sister’s kinship, her connection with Rain. It’s in my nature to want to be as important to her as she is to me, and I know I’m not. That’s why I chose Ben, the boy who was choosing me back at every turn. He’s cheated a few times, yes, but whenever I gave him a choice, he immediately dumped the other girl for me. He picked me, always.

Rina never chose me over Rain. She isn’t choosing me over Loch, or over Ryther. She’s telling me both are right for wanting me to leave. And I can’t deny they are.

It’ll be worse—I’llbe worse—now that I have no one else.

God, I need someone. Anyone. Friends.A lover. An ally.

A sister who loves me as much as I love her.

I bite my lip and try again. “About earlier, when you said what you said about my parents…you were cruel. But I spoke out of turn when I accused you of causing Rina’s death. Unprovoked. I’m sorry for that.”

I sound formal and fake and wrong, but Loch only tilts his head, intrigued. “Apology accepted.”

I blink. “Just like that?”

He shrugs now. “I meant it when I said we ought not to be enemies. But it’s not in my nature to forgive slights. One day I’ll take great pleasure in telling you if a dress makes your calves look fat. I see no need for greater effort on my part in light of your apology.”

I can read between the lines. “And if Ihadn’tapologized?”

He smiles, all teeth. “In your great wisdom, you did. We folk repay debts in kind to our friends and a hundred times over to our enemies.”

For once, I decide to be completely honest with him. “You’re scary.”

“I’m glad you have the sense to be afraid,” he retorts.

“Would you have…killed me?”

His gaze takes me in from head to toe, considering. “Likely not. You’re no threat. No point eliminating you. Besides, our sister has suffered enough loss.”

Our sister.He says it so easily, sharing his claim on her without hesitation.

He’s not done yet. “I would have found out your greatest desire and given it to you.”

I’m about to say that doesn’t sound bad. I’m wrong.

“Then I would have taken it away. Destroyed it.”

Oh. Why, oh why didn’t I see that coming, exactly?

“Words have power here. Don’t wield such a sharp tongue unless you’re prepared to shoulder the consequences.” Then he winks, plucking two wine glasses off a tray a dainty green servants offers him.

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