When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity #12)(43)

“I followed my fiancée’s imprint.”

Fiancée? Oh hell, no.

Cyn gave another furious attempt to break free. “What does that mean?”

It was Fallon who answered. “A Chatri with royal blood can trace a portal created by another fey.”

The pompous prince sent her a warning frown. “How I arrived is no business of the vampires.”

“It is if you don’t want to become dinner,” Cyn warned.

Magnus curled his lips. “You don’t frighten me, leech.”

“Then you’re an idiot,” Cyn shot back.

“Stop,” Styx commanded, turning his head to send Magnus a warning glare. “The penalty for trespassing in a vampire’s lair is death.”

The prince held up a slender hand, a strange glow surrounding his fingers. “Just as the penalty for kidnapping a Chatri princess is death.”

“No, Magnus.” Fallon took a sudden step forward, her face pale. “I wasn’t kidnapped.”

Magnus never allowed his gaze to stray from the vampires. “Do not contradict me, female.”

“She’ll do whatever the hell she wants to do,” Cyn barked.

The cognac eyes narrowed. “She belongs to me.”

No f*cking way.

A red mist exploded in his mind, short-circuiting any attempt to think.

Instead it catapulted him into action.

He was going to rip off that fairy head and . . .

“God. Damn.” Styx spread his legs wide, his face tight with the effort of holding on to the crazed vampire. “Get him out of here before Cyn shows you just what happens when you piss off a berserker.”

Fallon sucked in a sharp breath, trying to rid herself of the nasty sense of panic that she always felt when in the company of her fiancé.

Magnus was never cruel. At least not physically.

But he’d lived among the Chatri royalty who firmly believed that females were little more than property. He’d bought and paid for her; now he expected her to fulfill her role as the submissive, always-dutiful fiancée.

He was the adored alpha male and she was nothing but another female expected to kneel at his feet.

Unfortunately for both of them, Fallon had never truly accepted the part she was expected to play. And it was even worse now after being away from her homeland.

Or maybe it is worse because you’ve been with a man who’s treated you as if you are more than a thing, a treacherous voice whispered in the back of her mind. Even when they were fighting, Cyn made her feel as if she were an equal opponent. And when she’d been in his arms . . .

With a smothered gasp, she hurried to grasp Magnus’s hand and tugged him out the door. This was no time to think about the shocking pleasure she’d felt when Cyn kissed her. Not when her fiancé was calling on his powers as if he intended to use them against the furious vampire that Styx was barely restraining.

Good Lord. The violence in the air threatened to drown them all.

“I need to speak with you,” she muttered.

Once they reached the hallway, Magnus snatched his hand free, his eyes glowing with a frustrated anger.

“We will speak once we have returned to our homeland.” His gaze flicked over her casual attire, his disdain obvious. “And after you’ve changed into proper attire.”

Endless years of training had Fallon bending her head in apology; then, with a swell of long-suppressed defiance, she forced herself to meet the cold cognac gaze.

She’d been brought to this world for a reason. And the attack on Cyn only stiffened her determination. The mysterious enemy now knew they had been spotted. It was very likely they would step up their pressure on the Commission to complete the spell.

She had to discover who was responsible before it was too late.

That duty was greater than any contract her father signed.

“I can’t return,” she said, her voice low but steady.

“You are my fiancée.” The words were cold, clipped. “You will do as I say.”

His power beat against her, but Fallon squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated.

“Not this time.”

Magnus went rigid, his nose flaring. “You dare to defy me?”

Was that what she was doing?

Fallon gave a sad grimace, staring at the man who was supposed to be her life partner. She’d never been foolish enough to believe that he actually cared about her as a woman, but she assumed he would at least be concerned about her as an investment.

“You haven’t even asked how I got here. Or if I’ve been harmed,” she pointed out, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Or if I want to return.”

With a sharp motion Magnus turned to the side, almost as if he were trying to disguise his reaction to her soft chastisement.

Which was ridiculous.

The prince believed himself omnipotent. He couldn’t possibly feel guilt.

“I see your short time in this world has already started to corrupt you.” He proved her point with his stark chastisement. “The sooner you are back in your father’s palace the better.”

She heaved a sigh. “I told you that I can’t leave. The Oracles have commanded my service.”

“The Commission has no authority over the Chatri.”

“Maybe not.” Fallon had no knowledge of the hierarchy between her people and the Oracles. To be honest, she didn’t care. This was about saving lives, not playing political games. “The danger this world faces might eventually threaten our people as well.”