Page 187 of Primal Bonds

The king set a hand on Marjani’s arm, but she shook him off to move closer to her friend. To Fane’s surprise, Sindre allowed it. But then, he was a canny man, and patient when it suited him.

She shook her head sorrowfully. “You had to follow me, didn’t you?”

Luc’s bloodied mouth turned up in a lopsided grin. “You knew I would.”

She blew out a breath. “Yeah. But I hoped I was wrong.”

“You’re all right?” The fada moved as close to the iron bars as he could without touching them. “Those motherfuckers haven’t hurt you?” His fierce look included all three of them: Sindre, Blaer and Fane.

“I’m fine. But you…”

The fada’s hard face softened. “Don’t worry about me.” He reached for the bars and then stopped himself from grabbing them just in time. His hands fisted.

“Let her go,” he growled at Sindre. “You’ve got me and Corban. I’ll agree to anything you say if you just let her go.”

Blaer’s dark eyes glowed, lapping up his fear and anger.

“No!” exclaimed Marjani. “Don’t make any promises. Let me handle this.”

“Actually,” the king said, “Marjani and I were about to make a deal.”

“Like hell,” Luc snarled. His claws slid out and his teeth lengthened so he looked barely human. “Let me out of this fucking cage. Fight me like a real man.”

“Is that what real men do?” Sindre asked, interested. “Fight?”

“You win.” Marjani whirled to face him. “Let him go. I’ll stay here in his place.”

“Jani, no!” The fada rammed a shoulder against the cage’s iron door. It seared his skin with a sickening hiss, but he did it again and again before giving up to stare helplessly at Marjani. Red stripes from the bars marked his shoulder and arm, and the stomach-turning odor of burnt flesh filled the tower.

“No.” Fane was across the room before he’d realized he moved. He grabbed Marjani’s arm. “Bargain with him. Make him set a time limit or you’ll be here the rest of your life.”

Sindre’s brows pinched together. “You become tedious, Fane. Step away from her.”

He clenched his fists—and then obeyed. Because he had to.

“Bargain with him,” he muttered one last time.

“Come, your highness.” Marjani crossed her arms and tilted her head to one side. “Surely you don’t think a fada can best you in a bargain? What are your terms?”

“A year and a day—in my court.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How long would that be in my world?”

Good. She was using that intelligent brain of hers.

“About ten turns of the sun,” the king replied.

“And what would my duties be?”

A smile curved Sindre’s lips. “To entertain me.”

“No.” Luc’s snarl tore through the room. He slammed against the cage over and over, uncaring of his seared and bruised flesh.

Marjani’s chin jutted. “I won’t be your whore.”

The king inclined his head. “If anything happens, it will be with your full cooperation.”

For some reason, that made her freeze. Her lips went white around the edges. “You’ll swear to that.”

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