Page 153 of Primal Bonds

“That’s the great hall,” he murmured.

It was a huge, intricately-shaped hexagon that reminded her of a giant snowflake. At the center, several hundred chic, glittering fae dined at linen-covered tables. Ethereal silver chandeliers floated overhead, and ice sculptures of magical creatures were scattered here and there. From hidden speakers emanated dreamy music, intermingling with the murmur of voices and the clink of fine crystal. Through the tables moved slim, pointy-eared elves, filling glasses and ensuring no one’s plate was empty.

Marjani’s feet slowed. Other than the few times she’d been to the sun fae court, she’d never seen so many fae in one place. Like sun fae, the ice fae’s skin came in every shade from translucent white to deep brown, but their hair was a variation on snow and ice: white, silver, blond, with the occasional shimmering gold or red. And every single one of them was model-beautiful, like Fane.

The clothes were incredible—stylish, fae-tailored creations that would cost a year’s pay in the human world—but it was the jewels that made her stare. Ice-cube-sized diamonds. Fiery opals. Blue and purple sapphires, and chunky green emeralds.

With his single diamond stud, Fane was a model of restraint.

“Keep moving,” he hissed, and with a start, she realized she’d slowed down to stare.

She sped up, moving silent as a wraith alongside him. To her amazement, no one even glanced their way. It was as if the two of them were invisible.

They traveled another few hundred yards before reaching a short hall with several doors. Fane stopped at the end of the hall in front of a green door and ushered her inside.

“We can talk,” he said in a normal tone as he locked the door and dropped his jacket on a chair. “The rooms are soundproof and warded. The fae don’t trust each other worth a damn.”

He was wearing skinny black jeans and a baby blue shirt that matched his eyes. He raised his arms in a bone-cracking stretch that strained the soft material across his chest. Marjani couldn’t help taking in his body, lean and powerful in the form-fitting clothes.

He brought his arms down. “That was too damn close.”

“Yeah,” Marjani said, still staring at his chest.

His lips edged up and their eyes met.

She looked away first. “This is your room?”

“When I’m at court.”

“It’s…nice.” It was—a small, cozy space.

A walnut sleigh bed with a moss-green comforter hugged one wall, and three sparkling gold fae lights floated overhead, warming the creamy walls. In addition to the plain wood chair that held his jacket, there was an easy chair with a small round table between them. Through a partially open door, she saw a bathroom with a shower and huge oval tub.

He moved a shoulder in a half-shrug. “It suits me well enough.”

“You don’t live here in Iceland?”

“Gods, no. I spend as little time here as possible. I’m a quarter-fae.” His handsome mouth twisted. “They don’t treat me much better than they treat the fada. Which is why you’d better talk. Now.”

Suddenly he loomed over her. She stared back, not betraying by a flicker of an eyelash that her heart had sped up. The friendly, easy-going man of the pub was gone, replaced by a steely-eyed fae. But she’d been threatened—and worse—by men a hell of a lot more dangerous.

She held her ground and palmed the switchblade.

He blew out a breath. “I’m not your enemy, Jani.”

“No?”

“No. In fact, I fucking stuck my neck out for you. Do you know what the goblins would have done if they caught you? They swarm over you like a pack of rats.” A muscle flexed in his jaw. “You might kill a few of them, but they just keep coming, clawing and biting until you’re half-conscious and bleeding in a dozen places, and then they bind you and put you in an iron cage.”

She swallowed. “I guess I owe you one.”

He nodded, and she was reminded that it was never a good thing to owe a fae. But somehow, she kept forgetting that Fane had fae blood. He seemed too warm…too human. The only fae she’d known had been cold-hearted pricks, with the possible exception of Cleia, the sun fae queen.

“You can start by telling me why you’re here.”

He was so close she could see all the gradations of blue in his eyes—the navy rim, the silver that streaked his sky-colored irises.

She drew a ragged breath, and his face softened.

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