Page 421 of Primal Bonds

Langdon stood a few feet away, dressed in a simple black outfit much like his warriors wore, his only jewelry the diamonds glittering in his eyebrows and ears. On his narrow feet were supple leather sandals.

He inclined his head. “My lord Adric.”

“Lord Langdon,” he returned. He about choked on the next words, but if kissing ass helped Rosana, then he’d kiss away. “My thanks for allowing Rosana to swim as her dolphin.”

“She’s a guest. I don’t wish to see her harmed.”

Then why the fuck keep her underground all this time?

But Adric knew the answer. The prince had used Rosana to break him. To save her, he’d promise the bastard anything.

His stomach clenched. He was more afraid for Rosana than ever. They were mated now. He wasn’t fighting just for himself or even Marjani.

He was fighting for her.

If he accepted Langdon’s geas, Rosana might have to do the same. A geas was typically for a fae year-and-a-day, or ten years in the human world. Mates couldn’t live apart for that long. She might literally pine away, and it wouldn’t do him any good, either.

But to Hades with that. He wanted her far, far from here.

“You have me,” he said in a hard voice. “Let Rosana go.”

The fae lights wafted lower to circle the two of them, the lustrous purple and green gliding like an oil slick over his skin. Or maybe it was just that standing this close to Langdon made him feel like he was covered in something foul and greasy.

Langdon spoke. “Senhorita do Rio is here at her own request.”

Adric swallowed sickly. That was the truth—she’d said so herself.

“As for you, you’ve broken a number of our laws. Your punishment is set for the night of the new moon.”

Adric’s chin jerked up. “What are the charges?”

“Trespassing, attempted murder. And let’s not forget your part in Lord Tyrus’s death.”

Adric’s heartbeat thundered in his ears.

Oh, Rosana.

He could guess what his punishment would be—execution. Or if Langdon was feeling lenient, he might invite Adric to accept his geas instead—and not for the fae year-and-a-day. This would be a life sentence.

He’d accepted the mate bond to save Rosana’s life. But in doing so, had he condemned her to spend the rest of that life alone?

He moistened his lips. “And Marjani?”

“She’ll be punished for her own part in the death of my line.”

“Your own fucking son ended your line,” he growled back. “He ordered Silver’s death, and he got within inches of killing Merry, too. Then he went after Jace just because he’s Merry’s uncle. Tyrus would be alive today if he hadn’t attacked us.”

“So you say.” Langdon’s lids lowered, concealing his thoughts. “Now go with Olivier or I’ll allow Neoma to play with you.”

The warriors tried to grab Adric again, but he was ready this time. He side-stepped, circled to the prince’s other side.

“What about Rosana?”

“She must choose her own path. But you have my word she won’t be harmed.”

The fae lights darkened. Shadows danced over the room. Langdon didn’t seem to move, but suddenly, he blended with them, part man, part wraith.

Adric leapt after him, but Langdon just…flowed away. This time, the guards didn’t even try to stop Adric. They knew he couldn’t touch the prince.

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