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“Soren has bravely stepped up and set aside his mantle as Lord to act as Moira’s protector from now until such threats against her life have been eliminated.” Thorvin cleared his throat once more. He lifted his gaze, a rare apology swimming in the depths of his eyes. “Eliminated,” he repeated. “Not neutralized. Eliminated. Per the terms of the agreement, neutralizing the threat will have no bearing on Lord Soren’s standing. Any threats against Moira must be permanently eliminated for him to take up the position of his former office once more.”

I was going to murder Ethan in his sleep. “How will you know if the threat is permanently eliminated?”

Thorvin looked decidedly uncomfortable. Ben chimed in. “Soren has been gifted a fae spell that will be the deciding factor on whether the threat is truly dead.”

“Who offered this ever so handy spell?” I growled as a horrible suspicion rose within me.

Evie rubbed her hand over her mouth. Her eyes glittered with amusement.

Rowan let out a short laugh. An apologetic look stole over his face as he ducked his head.

“The spell was graciously gifted to us by the former fae king Cernunnos,” Ben said.

So…this was a terrible way to find out my sort-of boyfriend had just broken up with me and stuck me with the prior bane of my existence.

“I wonder if the spell works on the fae,” I growled. “Because I’m going to find your father and grind his bones to dust.”

Evie snorted. “He’s very good at hide-and-seek,” she said mildly. “You may find him a difficult target to acquire.”

I’d been thoroughly hoodwinked. Bamboozled. Hornswoggled. Snookered. Buffaloed. All the words I could think of to shout how utterly duped I’d been.

“And if I refuse?”

Soren rose from the table and came around until he stood before me. His eyes glittered. “You will also find me a difficult target to hide from, my sweet little vampire.”

Soren leaned forward until he was deeply inside my personal space. “Don’t forget what you and I almost did, darling. Your scent is embedded in my bones. I can find you anywhere,” he whispered, his breath warm on my neck.

I went utterly still. “Don’t do this,” I whispered. “We’re on good terms. I’d like to keep it that way.”

Soren’s chuckle sent a shiver down my spine. “Too late. I’ve given up my title and my lands for you.”

“Temporarily,” I breathed.

“Maybe,” Soren murmured. “Depends on how long it takes us to find Mommy Dearest. Until then, you are stuck with me.” He leaned away, his eyes glittering with an emotion I couldn’t name. “Part of the deal is we are together twenty-four seven until this is over.” His mouth widened in a wicked smile. “That means I’ll be in your apartment. Or hotel. Or bedroom. Wherever you are, I am.”

Fucking hell. How had this gone so wrong, so quickly?

I shook my head. “I am not under the Lords’ domain,” I announced. “I reject this bargain.”

I took a step back.

“You are a citizen of our lands,” Ben said. “As such, you fall under the Lords’ jurisdiction.”

My mind worked furiously. “I am part of the fae queen’s attaché. You have no authority over me.”

Thorvin’s smile held a sad edge. “If this is the claim you wish to make, then you are free to self-banish yourself to the fae lands. But if you remain on this plane, you are subject to our whims.”

“I hate every single one of you,” I hissed viciously. I glanced over at Ethan, who sat motionless. He hadn’t said a word as they stripped my life away.

“But especially you,” I said to him.

A sliver of darkness rolled over Ethan’s eyes, making my stomach drop.

“I’m sure I’ll live,” Ethan said, his voice not sounding quite like him. Thorvin frowned and glanced at him.

Ben’s hands began to glow an unearthly blue, his healing power manifesting in his palms. Like Rowan, Ben wasn’t only a shifter. He was a gifted healer and a master with his power.

Ben’s magic was one of the main reasons he walked away from Evie. My friend’s tendency toward violence turned Ben off.