He scented salt and water, then, and sat on the new coffee table, lifting her chin between his thumb and forefinger to find tears running down her cheeks. Ones he had no doubt she’d been holding back for hours.
He’d turn the Autumn King into smoldering carrion for putting those tears, the fear and panic and sorrow, in her eyes.
“I spent my whole life avoiding this. And I just feel …” She wiped angrily at her face. “I feel so fucking stupid for having walked into his net.”
“You shouldn’t. He bent the rules to his will. He’s a snake.”
“He’s a snake and now technically, legally, my king.” She choked on a sob. “I will never have a normal life again. I’ll never be free of him, and—”
Hunt gathered her into his arms, moving to the couch and pulling her into his lap. “We’ll fight him on this. You want a normal life, a life with me—we’ll make it happen. You’re not alone. We’ll fight him together.”
She buried her face against his chest, tears splashing onto the black armor of his battle-suit. He stroked her silken hair, letting the smooth strands slide through his fingers.
“I could handle the Starborn shit. I could handle the magic,” she said, voice muffled against his chest. “But this … I can’t fucking handle this.” She lifted her head, dread and panic flooding her expression. “He owns me. I’m chattel to him. If he wanted me to marry Cormac tonight, he could sign the marriage documents without even my presence. If I wanted a divorce, he’d be the one to grant it, not that he would. I’m a commodity—either I belong to him, or I belong to Cormac. He can do whatever he wants, and no amount of bravado from me can stop it.”
Lightening skittered down his wings. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“And what will that do, beyond get you executed?”
He leaned his brow against hers. “We’ll think of a way out of this.”
“Hypaxia said only the Asteri could override him. Considering our status with them, I doubt they’ll help.”
Hunt blew out a long breath. Tightened his arms around his mate. He’d slaughter anyone who tried to take her from him. King, prince, Fae, or Asteri. He’d fucking kill— “Hunt.”
He blinked.
“Your eyes went all … rage-dazey.” She sniffled.
“Sorry.” The last thing she needed right now was to have to handle his fury, too. He kissed her cheek, her temple, her neck.
She rested her brow on his shoulder, shuddering. Syrinx whimpered from where he had cuddled up on her other side.
For long minutes, Hunt and Bryce sat there. Hunt savored every place his body touched hers, the warmth and scent of her. Racked his mind for anything he might do, any path out of this.
Her fingers curled against the nape of his neck. He loosened his grip, pulling back to scan her face.
Starlight and fire sparked there. “Tell me that look means you came up with some brilliant yet painless way out of this,” he said.
She kissed him softly. “You’re not going to like it.”
Ruhn wasn’t at all shocked when he found himself standing before that mental couch.
After the night he’d had, nothing could shock him.
On the bridge, Day surveyed Ruhn without saying a word. Somehow, he could have sworn she sensed his turmoil.
But Ruhn said, “Anything for me?” He hadn’t forgotten their last conversation. She’d told him he was a worthless, do-nothing loser who’d never known sacrifice or pain.
“You’re angry with me.”
“I don’t care about you enough to be angry with you,” he said coldly.
“Liar.”
The word was an arrow shot between them. The night around him rippled. His temper hadn’t improved when he discovered that Ariadne had straight up bailed. Fled the moment no one was looking and gone the gods knew where. He didn’t blame the dragon. He was just … pissed he hadn’t anticipated it.
He asked Day, “What the fuck do you want me to say?”
“I owe you an apology for last time. I’d had a rough day. My temper got the better of me.”
“You spoke the truth. Why bother apologizing for it?”
“It’s not the truth. I …” She seemed to struggle for words. “Do you know when I last spoke honestly with someone? When I last spoke to someone as I do to you, as close to my real self as I’ve ever come?”
“I’m guessing it’s been a while.”
She crossed her arms, wrapping them around herself. “Yes.”