track her down? And hadn’t he taken her to her own slice of paradise so she would be happy to spend her time with him? Hell, he’d traded away a favor from a fey royal so she could have the finest nectar.
And for what?
If her pride demanded she be treated like a prisoner, then fine.
He’d treat her like prisoner.
He pretended he didn’t notice her vulnerable expression as she glanced around the massive space that was stuffed to the ceiling with piles of gold and jewels and unusual pieces of art that had captured his attention over the years. His precious books were in a temperature-controlled library that was hidden behind layers of illusion at the far end of the room.
At last she sent him a wary frown. “Where are we?”
“My treasure vault,” he drawled, his voice cold. “Make yourself comfortable.”
She flinched, wrapping her arms around her waist. “You don’t intend to leave me here, do you?”
“Why not?” he growled. “I tried to offer you a pleasant home, but you preferred to be treated as my property.” He nodded toward a stack of gold bars. “This is where I keep my spoils of war.”
“Baine—”
“I’ll return when I have need of you,” he rudely interrupted, heading toward the nearby entrance.
“No.” Tayla hurried behind him. “Please wait.”
Ignoring her plea, he walked out and slammed the door behind him. Dammit, he wasn’t going to feel guilty.
Or lonely.
Or…
“My lord.”
With a blink, Baine realized the guard who stood on perpetual duty in front of the door to his treasure room was regarding him with blatant concern.
Deliberately he studied the young male who was a half-breed like Char, although he had short black hair and eyes that were a brilliant blue.
“Torque.”
“Yes, my lord?”
Make sure no one is allowed near the door,” he commanded. “I don’t care who they are. Only I’m allowed inside.”
The younger male blinked in confusion. It was the same order every guard received when they were given the duty of protecting his hoard. There was no actual need for Baine to repeat himself.
“Of course,” he murmured.
“And alert me at once if my father makes an unexpected appearance,” he continued.
The guard nodded. “Aye, sir.”
Baine still hesitated, feeling oddly uneasy at leaving Tayla.
It wasn’t exactly fear. After all, there was no one who could possibly enter his treasure room. Not only was it constantly guarded, but it was wrapped in spells that made sure only he could form portals inside it.
No. It was more a feeling of…unease.
As if he turned his back on the beautiful imp she might slip away.
With a shake of his head at his ridiculous imaginings, Baine forced himself to walk to his private rooms. There was no way in hell that Tayla was escaping.
“Char,” he called out, using his mental ties with his loyal servant to open a portal.
Seconds later the half-dragon stepped into the room that was filled with bookcases and deeply cushioned chairs. With his short silver hair brushed from his lean face, and wearing a black turtleneck sweater and black slacks, he looked like an overly pampered tourist who traveled the world in search of excitement. As long as one didn’t get too close to the heat that pumped from his sleekly muscled body or caught sight of the storm clouds that swirled through his eyes.
“This is a surprise,” the younger male drawled, studying Baine with a raised brow.
Baine moved to pour himself a large glass of his finest brandy.
“What is?”
“I didn’t expect to see you out of bed for a month,” Char happily explained. “Why aren’t you with your lovely imp?”
A good question.
“She is…”
“Beautiful?” Char suggested. “Sexy? Irresistible?”
All three, he silently acknowledged.
Out loud he said, “Aggravating.”
Char shrugged. “She’s a woman. She’s supposed to be aggravating.”
Baine swallowed the brandy in one gulp, lifting his hand to rub the back of his neck. Damn. Even with her locked away he felt as if she was glaring at him from the shadows.
“She is doing an excellent job,” he muttered, narrowing his gaze as Char gave a sharp laugh. “What’s so amusing?”
“I have never seen you so twisted over a female.”
Smoke curled from his flared nose. “Twisted?”
Char gave a lift of his hands. “What would you call it?”
“A pain in the ass,” he growled, still rubbing his neck. What the hell? The female imp had clearly rattled his mind. “Did you locate the trolls?”
Char hesitated, as if considering continuing the very dangerous game of teasing his master. Then, easily sensing that Baine was at the edge of his patience, he allowed his