opposite, the Unseelie realm, full of Dark Fae. They were the evil ones, according to the legend.
“No. Not many have been here. We keep our borders strictly guarded.”
“Is that why you host the games? Because I have to say, as a tourist endeavor, it’s a flop.” I shook my head. “Too many people died. It looks bad.”
He chuckled low in his throat, and the sound rubbed along my nerve endings in the best way. There was attraction and fear in equal measures…and I liked it.
Okay, weirdo.
“I will keep that in mind for the future,” he said. “But tell me. Why did you save the wolf?”
“I already told you underneath the blackthorn tree.”
He frowned, as if he didn’t quite understand that I simply hadn’t wanted to and that there was no ulterior motive. He’d expected me to have another answer, and I did not.
“And the lion shifter? You could have killed him.”
“I didn’t want to do that either.”
“You saved the blue-haired Fae.”
“Because I wanted to.” I smiled and looked at him over my shoulder. “It all comes down to what I want.”
“You played with honor. There are no points for honor.”
He either didn’t believe in honor or was trying to figure out if I did, and I couldn’t decide which. “I got my points another way.” I held up my hand, showing four fingers. “Four prizes, remember?”
“Yes, you’re very skilled.” He strolled toward me. “And somehow a bit familiar.”
Ohhhh, shit. I turned to lean out the window, pretending to try to get a better view but really just wanting to hide my face from him.
“Why do you host these deadly games?” I asked.
“We host the games because it is tradition. Because the prize at the end is so valuable that people are willing to die for it. So we let them.”
“Hmm.”
“And perhaps I like it.”
“Do you really? Watching all those people die?”
“It’s entertaining.” His voice was aloof, but somehow I didn’t quite buy it.
Which was probably just wishful thinking on my part, and that was dangerous. Becoming infatuated with the deadly, probably evil king was a terrible idea.
I felt Tarron stop behind me. He wasn’t close enough that he was touching, but just like before, I could feel the heat of him.
It lit something up inside me as memories collided in my head. His lips on mine, his hands around my waist. The low groans he made as he kissed me.
It’d been the best kiss of my life.
And it’d been with a murderer.
He murdered his brother.
I wanted to ask him about that, but no way in hell that was happening.
“Why did you come here?” he asked.
“To win.”
“What would you ask for if you won? What would your wish be?”
“That’s my secret to keep.” His nearness made me vibrate. It made heat race up my spine and shivers run back down. I swallowed hard and slipped away, headed for the bigger window. “You have an excellent view.”
“You’re avoiding me.”
I looked over my shoulder at him and smiled. “Of course not.”
He grinned, and it was a wolfish smile. “You are. But what if I happen to like stalking my prey?”
Oh, I had a feeling he did.
And also a feeling that I wouldn’t mind being his prey.
I drew in a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. Was there anything in the room that might give me any clues?
The whole place was spartan. I’d expected a fancier lifestyle from a Fae king. But this one didn’t seem to enjoy his rule. It wasn’t just what Luna had said. Or this nearly empty room.
But him.
Maybe it was the knowledge I’d gained back in my workshop—that memory of his pain, whatever it was. He hid it well beneath an icy exterior.
There was something in the air, though. A darkness.
The demon magic, perhaps.
I stood at the window and looked out, silent.
There was probably nothing to be found in these barren rooms, and unless I could get him to drink a truth potion, I couldn't question him just yet. What I needed was a chance to sneak around and use my seeker sense. Maybe find the source of the darkness.
He appeared behind me.
I felt him more than heard him. I reached out to feel his magic to see if he felt like the darkness that was infecting his realm. Perhaps just a little. Or perhaps it was my imagination.
“Never heard of personal space, huh?” I asked.
“I’m the king. It’s all my personal space.”
I shivered, turned on and offended at the same time. Slowly, I drew in