By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(76)

“You can’t sever it. I forbid it.” Brandsome snarled, jumped up, and moved toward Quinn again. I stepped between them and roared. Brandsome paled and took a step back.

“You, out while I talk to Quinn.” I pointed toward the door and when the unicorn was too slow, I elongated my teeth and claws and chased him from the room, slamming the door behind him. I turned the lock.

“You can’t keep me from my pet! It’s against Elder indentured servant laws.” Brandsome seemed to have a death wish, but at least he’d been smart enough to say it with a door between us.

“You haven’t paid me for my services. Technically, I still own him.”

Dismissing Brandsome, who sputtered on the other side of the door, I spun on Quinn. “And you . . .”





26





Quinn held up his hands. “I know, I’m sorry, Twig. T-there’s no excuse.”

“You’re damn right there’s no excuse. You’ve been lying since the beginning. First about the mating and now about our bond. Fuck, is there anything you told the truth about? You’re no better than that unicorn.”

Quinn flinched as if I punched him.

“Well? Don’t you have anything to say for yourself? I can’t believe I trusted you. I have to be the Elder’s biggest idiot.”

“I’ll sever the bond. It’s simple. You’ll be free and I’ll go back with Brandsome. End of your problems.” He shrugged like it was no big deal, but I saw suspicious moisture gather in his eyes.

I wasn’t about to give in to his tears. He was probably just manipulating me. Again. He knew how I felt about the bond. And he’d kept it anyway. I mean, sure, I’d gotten used to it pretty quickly and I was even growing to like knowing how he felt and what he thought all the time. Which, interestingly enough, I couldn’t do now. He’d slammed that door shut between us. Another lie? If I felt suddenly lonely, well, screw that. I was better off without him. I should let him go back to Brandsome. They deserved each other.

I took a calming breath. No, that wasn’t true. There was good in Quinn. He didn’t hide how much he hated Brandsome. I’d try to negotiate his release, but the bond had to go. Damn. Had he used magic to make my dragon think he was my mate? Isn’t that what Brandsome implied?

“Did Brandsome use magic on me to—”

“No, I swear! He just commanded me to get you to mate me.” Quinn swallowed. “I didn’t expect you to offer. When you did, I fought to resist his compelling magic. I couldn’t go through with it knowing you’d be under Brandsome’s power.” He shuddered.

“With our bond, I am anyway. You realize that, right?”

He nodded, his eyes blinking rapidly. “That’s why we need to break it.”

“I agree.”

“Okay, then.” His shoulders slumped for a moment before he consciously straightened. “I-I just wanted to say it was a pleasure getting to know you. You’re an amazing guy. It was my privilege to be your wizard . . . if only for a short time.”

“You’re welcome.” It came out frosty, but how could I believe him? For all I knew, he wanted to butter me up so I wouldn’t break the bond. If my heart thumped in my chest and a tendril of unease snaked up my spine, well, too bad. I was done being anyone’s sucker. Before I thought better of it, I burst out, “Was any of it real? The things you said? The sex? Any of it?”

Burn me! Why did I ask that? It was like stabbing myself with my own sword, then deciding I needed to twist the blade.

Quinn’s eyes widened and his lip trembled. “Twig—”

“Forget I asked.”

Quinn swallowed convulsively. “It was real. For me.”

I wanted to believe him, but how could I? “Well, at any rate, once you break the bond, we can go our own ways.”

“Okay.” No arguing. He looked gutted. Well, that’s how I felt, so we were even.

“Don’t worry, I’ll still offer to buy you from Brandsome. You do want to be free of him, right?”

“More than you’ll ever know. But he won’t let me go. Not ever.” Before I could respond, he added, “Let’s do it. I have to hold your hands to sever the bond. It will take a few minutes.”

I sighed. Of course he’d have to touch me. The last thing I wanted right now, with my own emotions running so high. My dragon urged me to take him in my arms and comfort him. Fat chance. He’d betrayed my trust—and my heart—and that wasn’t a thing I gave lightly. Or ever. For all I knew, touching me was part of his plan to get me to change my mind. I was sorry to say that if I didn’t guard my heart, it was a distinct possibility.

We each took a step toward one another and then another until we were standing almost chest to chest. Quinn looked pale, his expression determined. He held out his hands. I paused before taking them, steeling my resolve.

Ice cold fingers wrapped around mine, held on tight. He looked like he wanted to say something again, but I shook my head. He nodded, began muttering a spell under his breath. My dragon was fighting me for control. It didn’t want to sever the link.

Too bad.

“Oooh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Bill said, startling the shit out of both of us with his silent entrance. We broke apart and I spun on Bill.