Page 97 of Kiss the Filthiest King

He pours, then takes a seat on the other side of the table, right where his sister napped a few days ago, remaining completely silent. When my glass is empty, he pours again.

The silence isn't companionable; it's probing. He's waiting for me to fill it.

Giving any form of information to Loch feels highly unwise. He's calculating, scheming, with either blackmail material or favors owed by almost everyone on Ilvaris. But the knowledge that all his wealth, all his influence, was accumulated only to benefit his sister changes my interpretation of this man.

"She said she'd see if she could swap mates." Immediately, I add what I know Loch will tell me: "It was a joke. Offhand. But shesaidit. She meant it enough for those very words to cross her lips."

I need more wine. My glass isn't empty, but I top it off all the same.

Loch sighs. "She doesn't fathom our ways. That was…careless. Cruel. Awful. But not sincere."

I make myself shrug. "All other considerations aside, we do harbor a pair of deities with a million-year-old fued based ontrickery. We're safer apart."

"You're not running because it's safer. You're running because you're hurt, and you'd rather not deal with any more pain."

He softens the blow by serving me the rest of the wine.

"This isn't nearly enough alcohol for this conversation," I tell him.

Loch clacks his tongue. "You really don't know me, do you, brother?"

He opens his coat, to reveal a bottle in each of his inner pockets.

I manage a laugh.

The second bottle, we drink in relative silence. Opening the third, he tells me, "I have a suggestion, if you're willing to hear it."

I roll my eyes. "What, you didn't ply me with wine for two hours for the simple pleasure of my company?" That he had a point to make, and didn't feel like attempting it until I was more charitable was clear. "Speak."

"You could follow your plan, if you must. Return to the wild, utterly miserable, for as long as the bond allows you to stay away, then crawl on your knees to beg for a touch in a year or so. Alternatively, may I propose a little payback?"

I blink.

"You're hurt. She rejected you. I know enough of bondings to know it's a physical blow. One that can, in time, turn that kind of bond into pure venom. We've seen it with the All and Undoing. But instead of clinging to your pride and making that drop grow into an entire ocean, why not show her what she did to you? She doesn't understand, so she'll do it again until she does."

I'm at a loss for words for a whole minute. It goes against everything in me to slowly incline my head. "Whose side are you on?"

"Hers." He doesn't hesitate. "But I can admit that, in this specific case, she needs some sense shaken into her. Show her what she did to you. And then, for the love of every demon, god, and monster in the wide universe, please talk it all out. You're too old for this much angst."

I debate whether I have the energy to punch him. "You're lucky you brought that third bottle."

I think about his suggestion. In truth, I can’t even imagine making myself tell her I’d want anyone else. Tell her I’d happily give up on the woman that the universe has made for me.

I could manage to find words twisting around the truth enough to formulate something close to that lie, but I quite simply can’t make myself do it. That said, Loch’s idea isn’t without merit. She needs to comprehend what she said. If she means it? Then both of us can deal with the consequences.

“You look like you have an plan.”

I nod. “I believe I’m going to give her exactly what she asked for.”

43

CARELESS TONGUES

Darina

Rain only remains for one more day, before I convince Valdred to take her back to Earth. In that day, she insults ten folk, and almost thanks three. We’re all exhausted by the time he’s gone.

Things otherwise settle in something akin to a routine, as strange as it seems at first. Rachel starts to take lessons from Caenan, who teaches her all manner of fae custom. Some, she shares with me in the evenings.

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