By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(75)

“Why would you do that?” But I was pretty sure I knew the answer.

“Why, power, of course. Your father is influential on the High Council and you’re a one-of-a-kind creature. If you’d mated my pet, you’d essentially be mine.” He shrugged. “Can’t blame a unicorn for trying.”

I sure could. And Quinn, too, for not telling me. I didn’t waste my time glaring at Brandsome, instead focusing on Quinn’s face. Quinn met my gaze and his jaw worked, but nothing came out.

“Is this true, Quinn? You were supposed to lure me into mating with you?”

He nodded. “But I couldn’t go through with it, even with the compelling magic—”

Brandsome hopped to his feet and backhanded Quinn. Quinn wasn’t expecting the blow so hadn’t braced for it. He fell, striking his head on the floor.

Before I even knew what I was doing, I hurtled my desk, a roar tearing from my throat, claws extending from my fingers. I knocked Brandsome across my office. Thudding loudly, he hit a sturdy filing cabinet. But my eyes were on Quinn. I knelt down next to him, forcing my claws down. “You okay, sweetheart?” I asked.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Quinn groaned and sat up. I reached around to feel the back of his head. A large lump had formed. He winced when I touched it.

“No, you really shouldn’t have.”

I spun around to see Brandsome, his fist wrapped around the horn, pointing it in my direction. What in the lower realms was he up to? His hair for once wasn’t in place and I could tell by the way he hunched over he’d come out the loser with the file cabinet. I would have smirked, but the look on his face was truly frightening. He snarled, his features harsh with his anger.

The horn began to glow and a thin beam of light streaked from it, hitting me in the chest. It didn’t hurt exactly. My body lit up and my cock hardened in record time. I smelled my own arousal and before I could stop it, I groaned. I needed to fuck. Now.

“That’s better. You see, my horn makes me even that much harder to resist, dragon. So difficult that I think you’ll agree to anything I desire. Come here.”

My mind clouded and I panted, trying to get my body under control. Damn, the unicorn was so beautiful it made my heart thump in my chest and my dick throb with longing. I needed him. Needed to be his. I began crawling toward him.

“No, Twig!” Quinn threw himself on my back, wrapping his arms around me. “Leave him alone,” he shouted at Brandsome.

“Ah, I see, it’s not the dragon who fell for you, but you who fell for the dragon.” He tsked. “I thought I taught you better than that. Well, never mind. You’ll be put through your paces until you learn. I look forward to your lessons. I may even have the dragon watch.”

Something wasn’t right. I wanted Brandsome, but the emotion in Quinn’s voice called to me. I shook my head, trying to clear it.

“Come to me, dragon,” Brandsome’s voice crooned.

“You can’t have him!” Quinn rolled off my back and threw himself in front of me. “He’s mine.”

“Cupcakes and cream, you’re going to pay for your disrespect, pet.”

“Like fuck I will.” Quinn muttered under his breath and Brandsome froze in place like a statue. He gripped my arm. “I need to get you out of here. The spell won’t last long. Please, Twig. I need you to be safe.”

I tried to focus on him, still feeling Brandsome’s pull even though he was immobilized. “I-I need to go to Brandsome.”

“No!” Quinn gripped my face and kissed me. Not gently, either. He shoved past my lips, all tongue and teeth. I moaned and opened for him. He knocked me onto my haunches and scrambled into my lap, never breaking the kiss. Wrapping my arms around him, I pulled him as close as I could get. He tasted like . . . mine. He was mine. And I was his.

The fog in my brain lifted just as the spell holding Brandsome began shimmering. We sat panting together, and Quinn pulled back, rested our foreheads together.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“You need to go, now.” His eyes were hollow with sorrow.

“Not without you.”

He shook his head. “I-I can’t. Brandsome still owns me.”

“No, I have your contract. He’s required to pay me first. We’ll figure something out in the meantime.”

“How sweet. I hadn’t realized I’m now the proud owner of a wizard and his familiar.” Brandsome’s voice was smug. “You’ll have to tell me how this came about, pet. I mean, once you’re able to talk again. It won’t be for a while. I have plans for you.”

I growled, and Quinn said, “You can’t have him. I can’t do anything about my life, but I’ll never let you touch him.”

Brandsome sauntered over to the seat behind my desk and sat down like he owned it. I was afraid he did.

“Tut, tut, pet. You know as well as I do a familiar can’t be away from his wizard for too long. It’s as good as being mated, isn’t it? Better even, because the wizard holds all the power. And since I control the wizard . . .”

Quinn turned to me. “I can release you from the bond.”

“What?” both Brandsome and I said in unison.

He nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but I was afraid you’d want to sever it before we got to know each other. I figured if I gave you time to get used to it, you’d be more likely to keep it and we could just hide it when necessary. I hoped to find some spell that would make it possible—”