Brutal Vows (Queens & Monsters #4)(40)

“What did I do?”

He says it as if he really has no recollection that he went full John Wick mode and hunted down and killed the men who blew a hole in the side of the house and wanted to kidnap Lili.

“You protected us. All of us. And you saved my life.”

He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His burning gaze never leaves my face. He says gruffly, “You saved mine.”

“Probably not. I mean, that guy was a terrible shot. You would’ve blown a hole in his forehead before he could’ve gotten off another round. If it were me shooting you in the back, you’d be dead. Not that I would shoot you, because I’ve decided I don’t hate you anymore, but you know what I’m saying.”

When I smile at him, he exhales a small, astonished laugh.

“Just like that, you don’t hate me anymore?”

I make a screwy face. “Let’s say I’ve downgraded it to intense dislike and leave it at that.”

“And all it took was a few murders,” he says, looking dazed. “Had I only known that sooner.”

“Ha. But seriously, all joking aside. Are you okay?”

He stares at me for a long moment in silence, then demands angrily, “Who are you right now? Where’s the swamp witch?”

“Why can’t I be a swamp witch and a sweetheart? Hecate had three forms, and everybody worshipped her. Also, you’re one to talk, Dr. Jekyll.” I stop to think. “Or is it Mr. Hyde? I can never remember which one’s the monster.”

Appearing exhausted, he sags back into his chair and passes a hand over his face. “Every time I have a conversation with you, I feel like I’m going insane.”

“I take it that means you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t!”

That leaves me deflated. “Because you don’t trust me.”

“No, because I don’t want to be telling secrets to the soul eater who replaced Queen Devil Bitch with this reasonable person.” He waves a hand at me in irritation. “Whoever she is.”

I raise my brows and stare at him. “Excuse me…Queen Devil Bitch?”

“Aye,” he says without missing beat. “No, wait. That’s not it—it’s Queen Devil Bitch of All Existence.”

I’m horrified. “That’s what they call me? How awful!”

He chuckles. “No, that’s what I call you. God only knows what the other lads call you, but whatever it is, I’m damn sure they’d never say it to your face.”

Deeply insulted, I say, “That’s because they’re afraid if they did, their wives would be picking out their caskets. Quinn, a swamp witch is one thing, but…Queen Devil Bitch of All Existence? Seriously?”

“Have you even met yourself, lass?”

“I’m not that bad!”

He snorts and scratches his beard. “Aye. And vipers aren’t that poisonous.”

I cross my arms over my chest and smile at him. “Oh, that reminds me. It wasn’t sugar I put in your coffee. It was arsenic.”

“You’re only proving my point!”

The oven timer dings. I rise, pour the egg casserole mixture into six greased baking dishes, and put them in the double ovens. Then I turn back to Quinn.

“Fruit?”

“Pardon?”

“Would you like some fruit with your egg bake, or are you strictly a proteins kind of guy?”

He quirks his lips. “You mean you don’t already know?”

I tilt my head and look at him from under lowered lashes. “I’d say you’re a big-time fruit eater.”

A faint tinge of pink stains his cheeks. He swallows. “What I really need is scotch.”

“No, what you really need is a shower and a new shirt. I’d give you one of Gianni’s, but you’re much too big across the chest and shoulders to fit into anything of his.”

“Was that…did you just give me a compliment?”

“Oh, stop gaping at me. I was only saying you need a change of clothes. We can’t go ring shopping with you looking like you crawled out from under a bridge.”

His face falls. “Ring shopping. Right.”

He looks utterly depressed by the mention of it, which is confusing, considering he’s the one who’s so insistent on this marriage.

“Quinn?”

He glances up at me.

I hesitate, but decide I have to say it, no matter how much he won’t like it. “Lili’s going to need patience from you. Your marriage, at least at the beginning, will be very hard on her.”

When his look sours, I quickly add, “I’m not talking about your dizzying mood changes now. I’m talking about the fact that she’s young and naïve.”

Not to mention madly in love with someone else.

My voice drops. “She’s scared, okay? Please be gentle with her. If I won’t be around to hold her hand, you’re going to have to. And I know you can, because I’ve seen the human side you try so hard to keep buried. Give that side to her, and you’ll make her happy.”

He stares at my face with an expression on his own that’s indescribable. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was anguish.

He says gruffly, “Goddammit, woman. Just when I think I’ve got you figured out, you grow another Hydra head and knock me on my arse again.”