Page 9 of The Filigree Key

Barefoot as usual, for boots never quite fit right on cloven hooves, Ossian was dressed in his customary buckskin trousers and white linen shirt. Around his neck, the multi-stranded necklace with its big blue sapphire and dozens of rough-cut gemstones—magic and souls, I corrected myself—twinkled like polished trophies.

The faebane sword and the bow he’d wielded the first time I’d met him in the moonflower grove were nowhere to be found. But the King of Beasts was a weapon in his own right.

The anti-tonic tea hadn’t affected me so completely that I was immune to the true danger I faced in this Court of Beasts, and my Misty Fields persona rose admirably to the occasion.

“Ossian! You’re bleeding!” I hurried across the great hall, not daring to spare the grizzly bear nor anything else in the room a glance, and slowed when I reached the dais.

The throne was of gleaming ebony and gold leaf, like a seat worthy of a pharaoh, the backrest carved to resemble a stag’s bust with wide-arching antlers. Shifting my gaze to the side revealed the glamour that radiated like a golden aura from the Stag Man’s skin. A purposeful, piercing gaze cut through the image of the man with copper curls and jewel-green eyes to the high fae beneath. The throne’s antlers seemed an exact replica of his, except his crown was chipped in two places. I kept my smirk to myself—how chipped antlers must burn his vanity.

“Ossian?” I prompted, setting only a foot upon the bottommost step of the dais.

I’d never seen him sit upon that throne before, and I knew he was sitting there now for a very good reason, even if it wasn’t one I understood. Yet.

His jewel-bright eyes finally deigned to meet mine. “Just a little morning exercise, love, that’s all.”

I kept my expression demure and concerned. Climbing the remaining steps of the dais, I called magic to my hands and reached for one of his. “And you either didn’t notice your knuckles were bleeding or—”

“Oh, it’s not my blood.”

My eyes darted to the grizzly bear slumped in the corner. His great shoulders shuddered with deep gasps as blood trickled out between his teeth and pooled under his chin.

Arthur . . ..

The green glow of my magic snuffed out as I carefully replaced Ossian’s hand against the handrest instead of using it to punch the smug fae lord in his handsome smug face. “Did you at least unchain him to make it a fair fight?” I asked casually.

“Why?”

“Because to do otherwise would make you a bully, and bullies only bully because they’re weak.”

The King of Beasts’ eyes narrowed.

“Now wipe your hands off and let’s eat breakfast.”

He seized my wrist as I turned to go, and I really wished I had “conveniently forgotten” to cover my iron cuffs with those leather wrist guards he’d fashioned for me.

“You’re here early, love, and without an escort. How ever did you summon the courage to enter the great hall without a Brother or me by yourself when you’re terrified of the bear? You practically frolicked in here like a fawn.”

“And did you notice what I was holding when I frolicked in here?”

His attention lowered to the ruby choker around my throat. Their gleam and sparkle reflected in his eyes. In his proximity, the stones warmed almost imperceptivity. I’d only noticed because I’d been looking for it, and I felt their influence plying me to submit to his seduction.

Fat. Chance.

“I am the mate of the most powerful fae king,” I whispered. My stomach roiled as I adjusted my dress so I could straddle and sink down onto his closest thigh. Misty Fields must’ve really been selling it, for his hand came around to grip my flank. “I am to be his bride and rule by his side in Elfame, am I not? There are worse things in the immortal lands than grizzly bears, and I will not embarrass you nor myself by not mastering my fear over something so simple.”

I leaned in to kiss him, hard and brief and full of anger that I disguised as desire. The anger broke through as I nipped his lower lip, eliciting a hiss in response. Passion and possession flickered across his eyes as both hands seized my waist and he lurched forward, wanting more.

One kiss that I controlled was hell enough, and I wasn’t about to allow him to force one of his own on me. I broke free of him, smoothed my dress, and fixed him with a reproachful look. “I said clean your hands. That disgusting beast’s blood is beneath you.”

His grin was positively savage as he rose from his throne and withdrew a handkerchief from his back pocket. “Yes, love.”

I waited for him at the end of dais to slip my arm into the crook of his elbow. He led us to the table and pulled out my chair for me. Just when I thought I’d escaped his greedy ardor, he snatched my long brown braid in his hand, yanked my head to the side, and sank a bruising kiss against my neck.

In full view of the bear, of course. The grizzly growled, spat out a mouthful of blood, and rose to his feet. He scraped the stone floor with a rake of his claws, sparks skittering like scattered cinders. But there was nothing he could do with that collar and chain around his neck, and we all knew it.

Reaching up, I threaded my fingers into Ossian’s thick curls. Fisted. Wrenched.

“Ossian, I know you’re famished, but so am I. And not for you.” A flirty grin assuaged his outrage at being so roughly handled. “I just anchored that portal and now I need to charge a key. This girl needs to eat.”