Page 136 of Flirting with Darkness

A beat of quiet from him as the wolf cries grew louder, then he groaned. “There’s only one way I can keep you safe.” His voice lowered. “Marry me.”

4

TRUE ROMANCE

“What?” I spluttered out the word, trying not to burst into a laugh that would draw the wolfmen straight to us. “You want me to—”

“I don’twantyou to marry me, but it will bring you under the Queen’s protection. It’s not forever—we can make the vows for a year and a day.”

A short marriage for the sake of convenience. Quite a big convenience if it meant the pack wouldn’t get to “play” with me. Still… “What do you get out of this?”

Another humourless grunt. “You’re in no position to ask questions, human. Unless you want to ask them about the games they have planned for you. Though you’ll have to get your questions inbeforethey tear you limb from limb.”

Their clawed fingers ripping into my flesh. Muzzles stained with blood—myblood. Would they leave scraps for the crows or eat everything, even the bones?

My heart thudded, painful. It was nothing compared to the pain they’d inflict on me. As soon as they’d mentioned “play” I’d known they meant something terrible, but hearing it put in such blunt terms brought a horrible edge of reality to the barks and shouts coming closer still. They bounced off the rocks, reverberating through the air, setting my hair on end.

The pack was nearly upon us.

“Be quick with your answer,” my captor murmured. “If it’s ‘no,’ I’m leaving. Call me old-fashioned, but I’d rather not ruin my day by listening to your death screams.”

“You don’t have to sit back and listen.” My voice wavered. “You could stop them hurting me.”

“I can’t.” A snarl edged his words, and I didn’t doubt it bared his teeth, too. “Don’t you understand? These are ancient laws. Breaking them would get meandmy boss in the shit with Her Majesty, and youdo notwant to piss off the Night Queen. Trust me on that.”

“Girl kissed by fire.” A round of laughing yips.

“Come play. Come play!”

His arm tightened around my waist. It felt more like a noose around my neck.

I was running out of time. “Just tell them we’re married,” I blurted.

“This is the only offer I can make: marry me and I’ll protect you. Or play with your new friends. Your choice.”

Then a pair of yellow eyes peered around the corner. The wolfman who’d asked me about iron.

“Ah-ha.” He stepped into view but didn’t enter our passageway.

Within seconds, half a dozen of his wolfish friends appeared behind him. He had to be their leader.

“What do we have here?” If it was possible, his grin went even wider than earlier.

So many teeth. So sharp. The fact he was so nearly human and yet so far from it made my mind twist away, even as my gaze remained trapped on him.

Those claws. Each one was as long as my forefinger. He could tear me limb from limb on his own, never mind with his companions.

The wolf-headed one loomed beside him, tongue lolling as he panted. His gaze skimmed over me like he was deciding which part to eat first. No sign of the one missing an arm. Had my captor killed him?

“Faolán”—the leader nodded to my captor, a stiffness in his movements that hadn’t been there earlier—“you’ve helped catch our little trespasser.”

“Hmm.” He—Faolán, apparently—squeezed me, fingers digging into my hip.

My choice.

Marry him or take my chances with this pack of wolves.

It wasn’t much of a choice, but better than no option at all, like Ari. That fae lord had taken her without even asking. I had to survive so I could find her. So…

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