The answering heat flare was enough to raise the temperature in the cave, enough to explain the fine sheen of sweat on Sionnach’s body. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was useful at hiding the truth. He waited as Keenan’s gaze took in the candles, the glasses beside the bed, and the fact that Sionnach was seemingly naked. There were moments in every faery’s life that were too perfect to have been planned, and Sionnach was having just such a moment as he reclined in Rika’s bed grinning while the faery who had caused such upheaval in Rika’s life—and in their desert—very obviously misinterpreted the clues.

“Were you looking for something?” Sionnach queried. In a moment of feigned modesty, he pulled the blanket higher as if to cover his upper chest, intentionally drawing the Summer King’s eye to his bared arms and shoulders. In shifting the blanket, one of Sionnach’s legs became partially exposed. The result, as Sionnach intended, was that he appeared to be sans trousers too.

After a disgusted look at Sionnach, Keenan asked, “Where is she?”

“Rika?” Sionnach stretched and, trying not to wince, rolled onto his hip. “She’s out.”

“I need to talk to her.”

“Hmmm. I don’t think she’s interested.” Casually, Sionnach reached down and lifted one of the glasses Rika had left next to him. He took a sip, stalling to hide his fight with pain, and watched Keenan. Then, he swallowed and said, “You had your chance. She’s moved on to better things.”

“I’m not here for that. I respect Rika—”

Sionnach couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped his lips. “Sure you do.” He dragged out the words. “I respect Rika; you upset her. You hurt her. I’ve been looking out for her while you were busy ruining other mortals’ lives.”

“I want to talk to her. We have business—”

“Let me guess. Fealty? The benefit of your court’s protection in exchange for meddling with our lives?” Sionnach sat up, holding the sheet to his abdomen, casually keeping it over his wounds as if he were protecting his modesty. “Where were you all these years when we struggled to keep any semblance of order in the desert? Where were you with your offers when I was getting bloodied to keep the unruly ones from slaughtering mortals? Not interested.”

“I’m not asking you. I’m here for Rika.” Sun sparks glittered around Keenan as he became increasingly agitated.