Page 181 of Primal Bonds

“No matter.” The king returned his gaze to Marjani. “I wanted to meet you, anyway.”

She swallowed. “Oh?”

A snowflake landed on her cheek and instantly melted, leaving an icy droplet behind. She brushed it away as Sindre unfolded his long body from the couch and strolled toward her. She clenched her toes in her boots and remained where she was.

He paused a few feet away, smelling of silver and snow.

She had to tip back her head to meet his eyes. He was even taller than Fane, with eyebrows and lashes the same white-blond as his hair. The snowflakes caught on them, forming glittering crystals.

Her fingers twitched. She’d never craved the reassurance of one of her knives so much, even though Sindre would probably freeze her in her tracks—literally—before she could stick a blade into him. Ice fae drew life-energy from the movement of molecules. Even young ice fae could suck the energy out of liquid water, turning it to ice, and the most powerful could draw energy from living things.

“You did well, Fane,” Sindre said without taking his gaze from her. “Bringing her to me. I like a man who thinks for himself.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fane give a tight nod.

Her lungs constricted. Was that what he’d done? Brought her to Sindre?

Fane shot her a miserable look.

Don’t think about it. Whatever Fane had or hadn’t done wasn’t important now. Not with this beautiful, deadly male eyeing her like a hungry lion would a rabbit.

Her chin lifted. “I brought myself. If Fane helped, he was only doing what I wanted.”

Sindre quirked a brow. “I beg your pardon.” His voice was soft and silky. Mocking.

She shrugged, out of her depth and sinking fast. Gods, she hated playing fae games. But the rage still burned in her, and it was rapidly being transferred to this mocking male.

She set her jaw. “Are you going to put me in one of those iron cages?”

Displeasure flitted across his face. “You know about the cages?” The falling snow came down harder, and the already cool tower grew even chillier.

“Why? Are they a secret?” She deliberately didn’t glance at Fane, but Sindre did.

“A secret? That’s a strong word for it.” He paced a slow circle around her, his expensive leather shoes kicking up the snow into small white clouds. “But an envoy should know better than to share my private business.”

She turned with him. “The man in that cage is my business.”

“Not anymore. He renounced your brother as his alpha.”

Was there anything Sindre didn’t know? Fuck trying to talk her way out of this. She might be a strategist, but she had the feeling he was five moves ahead of her.

She slipped her iron dagger from her boot. “Look, just let me leave and—” At a sound behind her, she broke off and whirled around, backing up so she could keep Sindre in sight.

The big, long-haired guard sprinted toward her, an iron dagger in each hand. She gripped her dagger and took a fighting stance.

The king flung up a hand. “Stop. I’ll handle this.”

The guard halted, and then with a jerk of his chin, sheathed his daggers. But he remained in the tower, standing beneath a twisted gray tree with his arms folded over his broad chest.

She turned back to Sindre. “I swear I’m not here to mess with you or any of your people. That fada you have in the cage? He’s my enemy. I’m not here to release him—in fact, I came to kill him.”

“And if I’d like you to stay here at the court for a few days? We get so few fada visitors.”

“A few days? And then I can leave?”

The king’s mouth curved. “It’s a deal.” He held out his hand for Marjani to shake.

Behind him, Fane gave a tiny shake of his head.

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