Prevented all this fuss looking for you both.” Killian took a step, sliding his hand in his slacks. “I was beginning to think you had forgotten what was important, Farkas.” His gaze glided over me. “Or maybe your priorities changed.”
“Nothing’s changed.” Warwick’s hands rolled into balls. “Your men are imbeciles. I wanted this between you and me.”
“Took you three days to come to that conclusion?”
“I’m here now,” Warwick growled.
My head spun with their words, not able to take in what my gut already sensed.
“What’s going on?” My lungs clipped with fear, my gaze darting from Warwick to the fae ruler, then finally at the three men around Killian.
The three guards who had taken me to Halalhaz.
Sloane, Connor, and Vale.
Killian’s personal guards?
Sloane took a step toward me, and instantly my gaze went to Warwick with confusion. I didn’t understand. Why wasn’t he trying to get away? They wanted him too. He was an escaped convict as well.
Warwick stared at me, not a shred of emotion on his face.
“What’s going on?” I asked again, my feet retreating a few steps.
Warwick grabbed my arm, yanking me back. “I brought my part of the deal. Now where’s yours?”
Deal?
“I am a man of my word, Farkas. You should know by now.” Killian’s voice ran over my skin, cooling and soothing, making my shoulders want to ease back in relaxation. I fought against the instinct. That was what fae did. They used their powers to trick humans, to make us their prey.
Not me. Not ever.
“Deal? What deal?” My head swirled, trying so hard to grasp what was going on.
“His freedom for yours.” Killian lifted a brow, his gaze rolling over me like I was an insect.
“Wh-what?” I snapped to Warwick, daggers of pain knifing my chest.
“That wasn’t all of it.” Warwick sneered at Killian, a nerve in his jaw twitching. He was a wall, not one single emotion I could gather from him.
“I-I don’t understand.” My voice came out almost like I was begging. Hoping this was all a mistake. “Warwick…?”
Betrayed. I felt the word more than heard it in my head, wrapping around my throat and squeezing out all my hope and trust. My lungs deflated with disbelief.
“Why?” I croaked. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
His grip crunched down on my arm, his head twisting away from me.
“Warwick has been secretly working for me.” Killian tipped his head at him. “After he brutally hunted down, tortured, and murdered seven of my men, one of them being my right-hand man. We made a little deal, didn’t we?”
Warwick rolled his jaw, his lids lowering on the fae leader, but he didn’t refute this claim.
“Warwick?” I stared, trying to rip down the fortress he put between us, not wanting to believe it, while my stomach twisted with the truth. This didn’t make sense. Getting me out, Zander helping, and then turning me back over to Killian? This had all been a setup?
“It’s been a very fruitful relationship.”
“For you maybe,” Warwick grumbled, his nose wrinkling.
I felt I had been dunked in ice water until everything froze, keeping out reason and logic. “But…he was a prisoner.”
“He was. He was also the perfect spy.” Killian smiled at me, but his eyes went to Warwick. “Though he was not as communicative in the last couple of months. He was keeping a very big secret from me.” Killian’s attention locked on me like I was the reason. “I never thought a human woman could have such power over you.”
“She doesn’t.”
Killian’s eyebrows rose.
“She’s here, isn’t she?” Warwick snarled, yanking me with him, stepping closer. “Now, give me what I asked for, and I’ll be on my way.”
Killian dipped his head, his guards reacting, moving for me. Instinct drove my feet backward, trying to free myself from Warwick’s grip. His fingers squeezed harder, his voice only loud enough for me. “Kovacs—”
“Fuck you,” I snarled like a feral cat, thrashing against him. “I can’t believe you.”
Sloane, Vale, and Conner circled me, clasping down on my arms, but Warwick didn’t let go, his gaze still digging into mine as if he wanted to communicate something. I no longer gave a shit.
“Szétbasz az ideg!” The nerves are fucking me apart! The old Hungarian curse flew from my lips.
“Brexley…”
“Don’t you dare say my name. Baszd meg magad!” Go fuck yourself, I wailed, anger turning me wild and violent. “Get him off me!” I screamed at Vale, yanking at my arms like they were my saviors. “You vile piece of shit. Let me go.”