Page 136 of A Court Bright and Broken

“I was so sure I’d find her in here,” he muttered as he thrust another log into the fire.

“IknowI felt—” he stopped his sentence abruptly, rising to his feet and turning back to me.

He sounded furious as he began peppering me with questions. “How long have you been here? When did my brother invite you to begin… cohabitating or…whateverit is you’ve been doing?”

What was I supposed to say? Answering him honestly didn’t seem like a good idea.

Not answering seemed just as dangerous. He was clearly very upset by the idea of his brother “cohabitating” with a human.

I needed to stall for time so I could think of the wisest next move.

Lifting my chin in defiance, I asked, “What business is it of yours?”

Pharis came to the end of the bed, reaching it so quickly he was nearly a blur. I scrambled back against the headboard, my heart vibrating in shock and yes, a little bit of awe.

While Stellon had gone out of his waynotto be intimidating, Pharis had no problem demonstrating the vast power differential between our races.

“What business?” he spat. “My brother’s welfare is always my business. And you, little human, arenotin his best interest. Especially not right now.”

Huddling near one of the gathered bed curtains, I began to tremble.

Was he going to kill me now?

I looked around in a panic. I was trapped in here with a powerful, angry Elven male who, unlike his brother, had no attachment to me whatsoever. He couldn’t care less whether I lived or died—and probably was leaning toward the latter.

Pharis stood between me and the bedroom door. The secret passageway was my only choice.

Harnessing the surge of adrenaline currently flooding my body, I leapt from the bed and dashed over to the opening.

An arm like steel wrapped around my midsection and lifted me off my feet, hauling me back against his body.

“Oh no you don’t,” he said close to my ear and laughed wickedly. “You and I aren’tnearlyfinished yet, little human.”

And then Stellon stepped from the passageway into the room. His piercing gaze whipped from my frightened eyes to over my head at his brother’s face.

“What is going on here?” he roared. “Let her go this instant.”

Chapter 36

Name Your Price

Raewyn

As mad as I’d been at Stellon earlier this evening, I was overjoyed to see him now.

Rarely, if ever, had I felt such a profound sense of relief. It doubled when Pharis released his suffocating hold and stepped back.

I rushed to Stellon, who wrapped me in his arms and pressed a quick kiss to my head.

“Are you all right, love?” he asked. “Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Heis right here,” Pharis said. “Why are you talking about me like I’m not in the room? Andwhyare you calling that human ‘love?’”

Stellon tore his gaze from my face and looked at his brother. “You go first. What are you doing inmyroom, putting your hands on what’smine?”

“What?” Pharis asked. “Yours? Who is she?”

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