Page 63 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

“No,” she sighed dreamily, “there’s really not.”

Gunnar’s hands flexed down by his sides. “Yes, well the idea here is to keep the danger away from Raina, to keep her safe when we all know it is impossible. Despite any efforts you and your rulers make, this will all come to a head and she’ll end up in the thick of it anyway, which means we will, as well.”

Oxygen refused to inflate my lungs for a couple of breaths. He’d reached into my mind and given voice to my fear. Not for myself, but that I would be putting others in harm’s way.

"Raina can handle herself," Mirrelle declared staunchly, coming to my defense. "She's more than capable."

"Is she now?" Gunnar slighted without any heat behind his words. "Let's hope she's as tough as you think she is, little dove. I’d hate to see you struggle to keep her alive."

“You can speak directly to me, you know.” They both ignored me.

"Bring it on, tiny," Mirrelle taunted, her eyes locked onto her target.

Gunnar's lips curled, but he didn't respond to her teasing. Instead, he quickened his pace, marshaling us to the narrow passage that led to the heart of the mines.

When we began our descent, Mirrelle's heated stare remained on Gunnar with a mixture of anger and ... something else, something primal.

Liam touched my arm and gave me a quick shake of his head. I wasn’t planning on jumping in, but I didn’t want Mirrelle to get herself into any trouble here. Blessedly, we made the rest of the journey in silence.

As we reached the bottom of the shaft, Gunnar stopped at a large door—and finally perceived Mirrelle's lingering stare. He smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Like what you see, dove? Maybe I'll let you have a taste later."

Mirrelle's response was immediate and dramatic. She gagged loudly, her whole body convulsing as if she'd swallowed something utterly revolting. The sheer intensity of her reaction caught him off guard.

My eyes rounded, both hands covering my mouth to avoid making it worse. Liam snickered a breath later.

Gunnar’s jaw ticked. Reaching for the handle, his eyes met Mirrelle's again, and for a moment, their heated gazes seemed to spark something in the air between them.

"Last chance," Gunnar cautioned, wrenching open the steel door to the main chamber. The darkness beyond yawned like the maw of some enormous beast, hungry for its next meal.

He was looking at Mirrelle when he said, "The door cannot be opened until each soul who’s entered the chamber has finished their task. You can still back out and run off to Thornewoodwhere I’m sure there’s an opulent room with a big comfy bed waiting for you."

"Your fake concern is noted, but I’m not going anywhere," Mirrelle shot back. "I'm here to have Raina's back, since you and your family seem to be lacking in your desire to do so."

With that, she raised her middle finger in defiance and strode past Gunnar, shoulders squared and head held high. The dark chamber swallowed her whole, but I knew she wasn't afraid, not of the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows and not of the male who'd just challenged her.

The moment Mirrelle disappeared into the darkness, Gunnar's gaze lingered on the spot where she'd vanished. I couldn't help but frown as his lips slowly curved into a smile. He hummed appreciatively and slapped a hand over his heart, clearly affected by her presence despite their heated exchange.

As much as I wanted to ignore their obvious attraction, it was impossible not to recognize how it added another layer of tension to an already strained situation.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Gunnar.” The animus in my tone was severe.

"My hands and where I choose to put them are none of your concern, nymph" Gunnar snapped, the spell broken. His demeanor shifted in an instant, returning to the antagonism he'd been projecting since our arrival.

"Come on, Raina," Liam said, grasping my arm and pulling me forward. "Let's get this over with."

"Aren't you going to wish us luck?" he asked Gunnar sarcastically, his russet eyes flashing with defiance.

Gunnar chuckled at the question. "Luck won't be enough for what awaits you," he replied. "I'll be back an hour beforenightfall. If you make it back to this spot, then perhaps I'll believe you've earned your place among us."

With that ominous warning hanging heavy in the air, he slammed the door shut, leaving us in the dark.

“Your brother is a complete dick,” Mirrelle’s voice echoed from nearby.

Liam huffed. “He is.”

I called a small amount of energy into my hand, just enough to make out our surroundings. “What now, Liam?”

“There,” he pointed behind Mirrelle to a narrow opening in the rock. “It will take us down to where all the fun happens. When it’s over, we climb back up here and wait to be let out.”

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