I jerked my head for her to follow. I know I was being an arsehole. I know I was almost certainly going to piss the girl off by behaving like this but so what? This wasn’t a game. Her safety came first.
I shut the door, making sure we moved far enough from earshot of the guards.
I let out a low breath. “How could you have been so stupid?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard. Taking a risk like that, allowing her to persuade you…”
“She didn’t persuade us.” Nela said.
I blinked. Was she fucking kidding me? They’d suggested it?
“You can’t keep her locked up like a prisoner. You can’t keep treating her like she’s just a weapon to wield. Like she doesn’t have needs too.”
“What needs?” I snapped.
“She’s a human being. She deserves to at least enjoy the world we’re forcing her to defend.”
I shook my head, pacing in front of her. “Don’t you think I don’t know that?” I snarled.
“Then what’s the big deal?”
“The big deal? The big deal?” I repeated. “Uther wants her watched.”
“What?”
“He wants to make sure she isn’t touched. That she’s kept a virgin.”
She visibly reacted to that. “What the fuck?”
“He’s convinced someone is going to try and steal her.” I said. “And that they’ll force her into making them half-Fae.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Try telling him that.”
Nela shook her head. “He has no right to control her like that.”
“Technically no.” I replied.
“But he wants to?”
I met her gaze. “Now you see why I’m angry.”
“I understand it but that doesn’t mean I would have done a different cause of action.”
“Excuse me?” I growled.
“Whatever the High King says, whatever you say, she has rights.”
“She’s Fae. Under the law she has no rights.”
Nela glowered. “Fuck the law.”
“Don’t let my brother hear you say that.”
“I don’t give a shit. The man’s a bastard some days.”