Page 60 of Caged By Dance and Desire

But after watching her dance, after being slapped in the face with the news that Dartanyon had been watching her, neither of us were in a good mood.

I turned at the sound of running and took off, meeting a panicked Mathen halfway.

“She's gone. Drei, she’sgone.”

There was no time to kill him. I allowed Constin to rein me in. My need to find her came before my need to disembowel Mathen. And the part of my brain that was still functioning, still loved him, heard his disconcerted words and set them aside to examine later.

Another clue about the nature of my bonded.

I seized our infantile bond, pushing into her mind, and felt her internal flinch. I didn’t care.Hasannah.Where are you?

Silence. I knew she heard me, I felt her attention. Also, her resistance.

Hasannah, this is not a game of chase. Not a lover’s spat.Where are you?

She shoved me out. I shouted, enraged.

Constin grabbed my arm. “What is it?”

“Thatfemale.I’m going to strangle her.”

“She's not outside,” Philea said, trotting up to me, her yellow eyes sharp on my face.

We were quietly scouring the residence before searching outside in a grid pattern, but there was no sign of what direction my disobedient,defiant,soon to be punished within an inch of herlifebonded had traveled in.

I forced myself to calm down and think more pleasant thoughts.My darling. I only want to know that you are safe. Where are you?

We’d had eyes on Dartanyon all night, though that meant nothing. Our bond was just strong enough that I could tap into her emotions, and that soothed me somewhat. She was upset, but the flavor of upset that didn’t indicate immediate danger.

I need time alone,she said, her mental voice sharp, almost scornful.Go away.

This. . .this?—

“There’s a transit stop two blocks from here,” Philea said as I was plotting everything I would do to Hasannah once I got my hands on her again. “It’s a main line, it would take her within two blocks of the Sahakian Arts building.”

I stilled, looking in that direction. Some of my panic eased. It was plausible Anah had fled to find comfort in the arms of her first lover, ballet. More plausible than Dartanyon finally losing what was left of his mind and taking my mate right after I nearly killed him.

Iwouldstrangle her this time.

She’d learn to like it. Eventually. Especially when I was fucking her from behind as I choked the recalcitrance out of her system.

Constin, who had moved away to answer a summons from his telegem, turned sharply.

“She's at the company building. Adoncia Vargas saw her leave and followed. She’ll keep eyes on Anah until we arrive. We’re in their debt.”

That female was proving useful. I owed Lord Iliweh my support in the future for the service of their bonded.

I allowed myself a small moment of weakness and closed my eyes. Anah was predictable, and that was a point in her favor. I didn't need an exciting bonded. She was already difficult enough to keep me from growing bored. Now that some of my fear over her safety was eased, I almost saw the humor in the situation. My little hissing cygnet. I was interested in the parents who had raised her with so much steel in her spine she could openly defy a High Fae Lord and actually believe she would get away with it.

Oh, my darling. You willnotbe getting away with it.

“Keep a quad here to watch over the red-haired girl,” I told Constin as Mathen left to retrieve the coach. Philea slipped away to return to the party.

Anah cared for the young human, and we’d been watching her all evening as well. I couldn't leave my consort’s friend to be preyed upon tonight. Dartanyon would be feeling thwarted and spiteful.

Andrei!

I froze. The sharpness in her voice set my teeth on edge. The growing unease. I waited, not wanting to scare her into breaking the connection, while trying to glean everything I could about what disturbed her.

---