Page 134 of Mortal Shift
“See, I know that expression isn’t good,” I said.
“Careful, pet,” a voice drawled from behind me. “You’ll hurt my feelings.”
“I’ll hurt a lot more than that if you don’t stay the hell away from me,” I snapped, whirling on my heel to glare at the fae prince.
He tutted, and his lips twisted into a sultry smirk. “Best not be making threats you can’t deliver on, or my good humor might just run out, and then you’ll be the one getting hurt.”
“Leave her alone,” Ling said, the words bursting from her and leaving her looking startled, and then pale.
Davorin canted his head, his expression speculative as he ran his eye over my friend.
“Leave her alone,” he mused. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”
I didn’t trust him for a second. No way was it going to be that easy. His eyes stayed on Ling, a predatory malice lurking behind them.
“Go,” he commanded, his voice laced with compulsion. “Leave Cali alone.”
“No.”
I blinked. Davorin blinked. Ling stayed where she was. The fae’s expression darkened. That level of compulsion…not many people I knew could resist it without a lot of effort. Not even supernaturals. But she didn’t look like she was even trying.
“What are you?” he asked.
“Immune to your tricks,” Ling said, notching her chin and meeting his eye. Kudos to her. Of course, Davorin could probably still snap her like a twig, so there was that. I cleared my throat.
“What do you want, Davorin? Other than to make my already shitty day worse.”
“Who said I wanted anything other than that?”
I rolled my eyes. “Naturally. Well, give it your best shot, but honestly? Pretty sure not even you could make today worse.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, pet. I do excel in my hobbies.”
“Fine.” I slumped back against the tree behind me. “Just…get it over with. Do whatever you’re going to do and then leave me to be miserable in peace.”
“Well, Icouldmake you grovel at my feet…but there’s no satisfaction in kicking kittens.”
“Um…thanks?”
“Tell me, pet, what has you feeling so forlorn?” His voice was laced with a hint of sarcasm but no compulsion, and for a moment I considered flipping him off, but then, what would be the point? If he really wanted to know, he’d just compel me anyway. Which all seemed like a waste of energy I didn’t have right now.
“Thaden woke up,” I said.
“And the little human fears being drained again?”
I turned my head to stare daggers at him.
“Thaden woke up, and he doesn’t remember anything about the attack.”
“He can’t clear your mate’s name.”
He was quick on the uptake, I had to give him that much. I inclined my head in a curt nod.
“Which means he’s screwed. That was our last hope.”
“Smart girl like you, I would have thought you’d worked it out by now.”
“Worked what out?”
