His jaw is hard, and his eyes glitter with anger. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me.”
How can he and I ever stand a chance when simple honesty is something I can never agree to?
Sebastian takes me by the shoulders, his face solemn. “Did you see Finn or any of his people last night?”
“You think they drugged me?”
“I think Finn would like nothing more than to gain your trust, then lower your inhibitions so you’d do something reckless . . . like agree to bond with him.”
“I didn’t bond with anyone.”
“I know.” He squeezes my shoulders gently. “I want to know if they tried.”
The only one I was tempted to bond with last night was Sebastian, and my bargain with the king kept me from indulging that wish. “But . . . why? Why do you all care about this bond so much? You act like it matters more than . . .” More than me. That was at the root of my begging in the shower, wasn’t it? It seemed that Sebastian couldn’t want me without a promise of the bond, and I wanted to feel like I’d be enough even without it. I can’t blame the drugs for that.
“Because it does matter.” He searches my face. There’s more he’s trying to tell me. Maybe he can’t. Maybe something about the curse? “I wouldn’t put it past Finn and his crew. A simple bonding ceremony, and he could take you away from me forever.”
Didn’t Finn give me a similar warning about Mordeus when I first came here? Why would they both warn me this way? And Finn was angry this morning when I admitted that the bargain with Mordeus is truly what keeps me from bonding with Sebastian. What else would he have said if Pretha hadn’t come in with Lark?
I can’t afford a fight with Sebastian now, and defending Finn and his friends will only prolong this argument, so I swallow back the urge and shake my head. “I don’t know who drugged me.”
He squeezes my hand in his. “If we were bonded, I’d know when you were in trouble. I would have found you last night and made sure no one could use your inhibitions to their advantage. I hate knowing how vulnerable you are.”
“I’m not vulnerable—not like I once was. I’m getting better at using my powers.”
But he doesn’t look reassured. “Sometimes it’s your power that makes you so vulnerable.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He gathers me against his chest, and I can hear his heart racing. “All that matters is that you’re safe.”
“Is it truly so rare for a human to have magic?”
He huffs out a laugh. “Indeed.” He leans his forehead against mine. “You’re so damn special, and Finn knows it.” He swallows. “Even if he’s not responsible for you being drugged last night, he will try to convince you to bond with him. But whatever you do, refuse him. No one can force the bond on you. It has to be entered into freely by both parties.”
“Why would Finn want that? What could he possibly gain from that?”
Shaking his head, he slides his hands down my back and to my waist, tugging my hips flush with his. “He’d have . . . access to your power.”
And since Finn can’t use his own without shortening his life or becoming a serial killer of humans, he needs my power. Is that why he flirted this morning, was so good to me last night? Is that the real reason he’s been training me? Is this all a long game to gain my trust so I can be his puppet?
I can’t bring myself to believe it. Then again, Finn once told me that everything he does, he does to protect his people. Why would I think his actions with me were any different?
“I wouldn’t bond with Finn,” I say, almost to myself.
Swallowing, Sebastian gives me an insecure smile. “When you’re ready, I will be honored to bond with you. I would use the bond to protect you. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” He lowers his mouth to mine and brushes a soft kiss there. “Are you ready?” he asks.
I swallow. “Bash . . . I can’t. I need more time if—”
“To go to the summer palace.” He brushes his knuckles along my jaw. “The bond can wait. For now.” He turns toward the hallway and lets out a low whistle.
A goblin hobbles into the room. His bowed head jerks sharply to the side and his nostrils flare. He sniffs, then looks at me, accusation in his eyes. Can he smell Bakken? Does he know his kin was here?
“Take us to the summer palace,” Sebastian says.