I met his eyes and unveiled a half-truth. “A foreigner. I found her roaming the city in a daze, so I took her home.” Sure, there hadn’t been as many women soldiers as there had been men in the human army, but there had been enough that he should have believed me.

“You just took her?” he repeated. “As captive?” His eyes danced when I nodded once. “Then why isn’t she in the dungeon with the rest?”

To lie was easy when it could be mixed with a heady amount of honesty. “Because I’m enjoying her if you must know.” I grinned. “A lot.”

Dade’s golden brows lowered, his gaze sharpening on mine. “And have you gleaned anything of use from her about the attack?”

“I’ve been a little busy, as you said.”

“Busy fucking her.”

Nerve instantly struck, I seethed in warning, “Busy rebuilding shit.” I’d forgotten my place, and we were both aware of that as the air grew charged. Too often, it became a problem, especially over the past few years while I’d battled with more than just other creatures.

Though it physically hurt, I forced myself to back down.

But Dade only studied me with unveiled curiosity brightening his blue eyes. “Very well.” Licking his teeth, he straightened from the door. “Do let me know as soon as you shake anything worth knowing free from this…” He smirked. “Captive.”

I inclined my head and took my leave. My claws, half unsheathed and piercing my curled palms, retracted when the blood king ordered at my back, “And stop pilfering my fucking lunches.”

Another stolen meal sat waiting upon the table between the half-eaten bowl of grapes and the barely touched jug of freshly squeezed melon juice.

At least she’d finished the water and most of the meal from the day before. I could’ve had the Keep cooks make me an extra meal without much in the way of questioning, but there would be talk as soon as my back was turned.

I couldn’t yet decide what I should do with this female of mine, let alone understand what her intentions for me might be, so I’d said nothing. I’d given no one a drop of anything. For I couldn’t let anything or anyone ruin it.

I had to have her. I had to keep her. It lived within the marrow of my bones—the need to make sure she never left me again. I just didn’t know how to make sure she wouldn’t.

And so silence and as much secrecy as possible was best. For now.

Especially while I tried to drag myself out from this pit of rot I continuously fell into when I remembered she was married—that she had a life. One that did not include a one-eyed brute with nothing to offer except for himself.

My jaw clenched.