Page 225 of Primal Bonds

“Well, what did you expect? You’re a mixed-blood, and on top of that, you’re too much like your father. Wayfarers, not warriors.” Roald’s mouth turned down as if that said it all. “But as I said the other day, I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You’ve made me proud. In your own way, you have courage. And you’ve proven your loyalty to the king.”

Fane gave a short nod. “Thank you.”

The big redhead raised a hand. “Let me finish. But this, this is an embarrassment. The whole court knows you snatched this fada from under the king’s protection and ran away with her. You want to have a woman like her, fine. But not a woman that Sindre wants. Where’s your common sense, boy?”

“The king’s protection?” Fane’s voice was coldly furious. “He wants Marjani as his plaything. He offered her anything she wanted—wealth, power. And when she turned him down, he tried to use her love for her friend to force her into accepting his geas. I saved her from him, damn it.”

The two men glared at each other. It was Roald who looked away first. “The king awaits,” he ground out, and stalked from the room.

Fane watched him go, his body rigid, before turning to her. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. He’s old and set in his ways.”

“I know.” She twined her arms around his neck and gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks for sticking up for me. Here I thought you were just another fae asshole.”

He smoothed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “Do me a favor.”

“What?”

“Don’t lump me with those arses.”

“You got it.”

They grinned at each other, but it was the kind of smile you give when everything is about to go to shit.

“I have something for you.” He pulled her switchblade out of his pocket.

Her jaw dropped. “How in Hades did you get that?”

“Wayfarer, you know. Quick hands.”

“But you were unconscious. I saw you myself.”

“I came to while we were still on the ground. It was just a few feet away. I managed to grab it before the goblins saw it.” His throat worked. “I have to take you to the king’s tower, Jani. The geas—it’s pulling on me.”

“I know. But this. I—” She slid the blade in and out a few times. Despite a few dents, it worked as good as ever. She clenched her fingers on the handle. “Thank you. It’s the best gift you could have given me.”

“Better than diamonds or pretty clothes?” He set his hands on her hips.

She lifted her eyes to his. His eyes were so clear, like falling up into the sky.

“Way better,” she husked. “Light-years better.”

His grip tightened on her. “I won’t let him have you. I swear on my mother’s grave.”

“Oh, Fane.” She came up on her toes to kiss his scruffy jaw. “I love that you said that. But—” She halted, but they both knew what she was thinking.

What could Fane do against one of the most powerful fae in the world? And there was the geas, too.

“I’ll think of something. Promise me you won’t agree to his bloody bargain.”

“You know I can’t promise that.”

“Damn it, Jani.” He pulled her hard against him, her face pressed to the crook of his neck. She heard his heartbeat beneath her cheek and it came to her. Like lightning on a dark night or a crack of thunder that rocked her to her soul.

Her breath snagged. This was why the cat had called him Mine. Why she’d felt his love and had been able to draw on it to finish the shift.

Because the mate bond had budded, fragile as a just-born rose. Her mom had told Marjani she’d know it when she felt it, and oh, she did. It made her hot and yearning and needful—and sad to the depths of her soul.

Because she couldn’t let that beautiful, delicate bud grow into anything. For so many reasons, they weren’t right for each other. She was a fada soldier. He was the stupid-rich, classy-as-fuck envoy of the ice fae king. She could never fit into his world.

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