“Aht, aht!” Valec stands, raises a finger. “Not the nature of this deal.”

Sel’s head swings back, outraged.

The boy smiles. “Even in our short time together, Kane, I can see that the best way to punish you”—he turns to me, his eyes glinting—“is to hurt her.”

Sel’s growl rips through the room. He lunges across the desk toward Valec, skidding on the surface—and into an empty chair. The broker’s gone. Sel lands on his feet, flips around, eyes frantic.

“Too slow.” A voice behind me.

Sel leaps on top of the desk—but Valec’s hand is around my waist before I register that he has me in his grasp. I struggle, but it’s like fighting iron. He’s immovable, impossibly strong, even for me.

“Let her go.” Sel’s eyes drift down toward Valec’s grip. “Now.”

“Or what?” Valec purrs. He leans down to my ear. “What do you think he’ll do, Briana? Jump down atop’a me with his angry eyes and flamin’ fists? Not void cuffed like that he won’t.”

Sel’s cuffs aren’t visible underneath the long shirt, but somehow Valec spotted them, and Sel’s not happy that he knows exactly what they are.

“Poor little cambion,” Valec sings in my ear. That is enough to chill me, that he knows exactly what Sel is, just like the waitress did. But what he says next sends panic rocketing through my body and Sel’s eyes both. “Little Kingsmage. Leashed by the Order his whole pathetic existence and now manacled by them too?”

“How do you know who I am?” Sel’s eyes dip to Valec’s too-strong hand wrapped around my middle.

“I’ve been around a long time.” Valec makes a thoughtful sound. “And I know what your Oath demands of you. Which is why I find it so curious that our Briana here”—he pauses, raises a hand to rub a thumb down the muscle of my neck—“so consumes your protective attentions. She’s clearly a smart, brave, gorgeous girl, but to capture the singular focus of a Kingsmage? Who is sworn to protect the Scion of Arthur only?”

I stiffen in Valec’s grasp. Valec doesn’t know who I am—and can’t, for my own good—but he’s gotten too close to the truth for my comfort.

“She must be very special. I do like special things, Selwyn. I’m a special thing myself.”

Sel’s nostrils flare. “I will tear your limbs from your body.”

“Mm,” Valec considers. “Be a fun fight without the void cuffs, but as it is, I’d just get bored.”

“Fight won’t be fun if you’re in pieces at the end,” Sel snarls.