I stared at his mouth. I told myself it was to taunt him and his obvious attraction to me but a little part in the back of my brain waved that red warning flag that I liked it too. We both knew what he was doing the question was . . . was it working or was I playing the same game back? The Unseelie Prince was not the alien his knights were. Ever since his trip to Seelie where he came back with a tan, cat-like yellow eyes, and hair the color of the deepest ocean he’d felt so much more alive. And terrifying. There was still a huge, massive part of me that was utterly terrified of this male in front of me . . . and yet when he dipped his head and pressed his nose to my temple my body turned volcanic. He inhaled through his nose then slowly let it out, his breath almost caressing that soft spot behind my ear. To my horror, I let out a deep sigh with the slightest little moan. His teeth grazed my earlobe.

He pulled back quickly, the tip of his nose touching mine.

I pressed my hands to his chest. “Perhaps I’m hoping you two will kill each other and leave the victory for me.” I pushed my magic through my hands and into his chest. Green lightning zapped him hard and fast, throwing him to the other side of the wall so hard he slammed into the marble. I arched one eyebrow.

He gasped but it morphed into a gnarly growl. He dove for me, his large hand wrapping around my throat in the blink of an eye. He lifted me off my feet then shoved me back into the wall. It should have hurt yet all I wanted was him to kiss me. Alarm bells were ringing in my head. His lips came down, gently brushing over mine⁠—

“BROTHER!” Sweyn screamed for him, her voice much closer than it had been before. Her stiletto heels clacking against the marble.

He hissed and dropped me like I’d burned him but not before Sweyn sped around the doorframe.

Her red gaze slid up and down our bodies, soaking in every detail of how close we stood. She arched one eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “I was not done with you, Brother⁠—”

“I do not answer to you, and you cannot command me to.” His upper lip snarled in disgust then he turned and stormed off down the hall.

Sweyn was snarling and growling like a rabid dog. She watched him flee until he was out of sight then she turned those vicious eyes on me. “Sam, I have a task for you.”

I bowed my head. “Yes, my Queen? What can I do for you?”