And instantly regretted doing so.
Having all the raw intensity bearing down on her—the placid expression, flat mouth, but bright, flaring eyes—shook her to the very core of her soul. Her tongue felt like a lead weight in her mouth, a mouth dry as sand. But amidst all she had witnessed, every spark of fear and determination to escape suddenly…evaporated. The unexpected will tostayright where she was, the enormity of this moment and all it encapsulated, left her entirely stupefied because itdidn’t make sense.
A deep breath finally filled his lungs, lighting those golden flecks to life in his eyes. He reached up to her fingerswrapped tight around his biceps, pinched the tip of her pointer finger between two of his own—she didnotjust feel zings of energy flitter through her arm at his touch—and peeled her hand away, his lips curling in an expression of absolute revulsion. For all she surmised, she was nothing more than a spoiled piece of meat ruining his fancy clothes.
“Get thishumanoff me,” he said, the quiet, gravelly husk adding another level of heat to her already tortured body.
The temporary euphoria she had sunk into vanished.
“Human?” She broke free from her awe and the tiny guilty pleasure of being so close to someone so immaculately beautiful and shoved off his chest. She added a smack to his shoulder for good measure as anger bubbled up from some unknown fissure inside her mind. Anger, fury, frustration. Madness, perhaps. The onslaught set her on fire with a temper she’d long since smothered. “Who the hell are you to speak down to me? Who the hell are you to think you are above me in?—”
Steve’s hands clamped down on her shoulders, fingers tight. “Rori?—”
“—a world you obviously have no right to be in, around people who don’t give a shit?—”
“Calm down, Rori.”
“—who or what you are when you threaten to kill your ownbrotherand throw awomanagainst a wall?—”
“Rori!”
Sharp breaths sieved between her teeth when Steve filled her vision, his face inches from hers, those silver eyes pulsing with concern while filling her with an unwanted sense of calm. His hands held tight to her shoulders, moving her back until he stopped her next to the sofa. It took only a second to realize she had been poised to attack, and she vaguely recalled Thaddeus preparing for the same when Steve steppedbetween them. Her heartbeat began to slow to a normal pace, her muscles loosening from the grip of tension.
What on earth had gotten into her?
A snapped glance at the beast who had magic ribboning around his hands again reminded her of why she should stay in her lane and escape. Not engage a rabid creature who possessed more ways to mutilate her than Rich’s imagination could ever entertain.
Cutting her attention back to Steve, a chill extinguished all the heat she’d mustered in the last few minutes.
“Take a deep breath, dear. Accept my apology on behalf of my brother’s pitiful behavior and lack of empathy. He’s been brainwashed for a while now.”
“He’s insane, Steve.” Rori circled her finger by her temple. “Batshit crazy!”
“His name is Cael,” Thaddeus muttered. His eyes glowed with feral rage, but at least the magical ribbons had disappeared, and he didn’t seem interested in palming his dagger hilt again. She leaned to the side and pierced the crazy beast with a stubborn glance, hiding another sucker punch to her libido as she laid eyes on him again.
“He’s Steve until he tells me otherwise, got it? ’Cause I don’t listen to knife-wielding assholes.”
The pressure of Steve’s fingers increased, bringing her back to her place. The place that hopefully wouldn’t get her killed in the next few minutes. He straightened his arms, forcing her to shuffle back another step as he blocked Thaddeus from her view.
Then his arm swung down, a ball of golden light pitching toward Thaddeus, blocking a sneak attack from the lunatic. Two balls of energy—one gold, one white-blue—tangled together, hissing and crackling, until Steve gave a thrust with his hand, a grunt from his chest, and sent his brother flying.Thaddeus crashed into the wall, the plaster cracking, webbing. Dust burst out around him, coating the floor tiles as he dropped to his feet.
“Serves you right,” Rori grumbled quietly, refusing to look anywhere near his face, knowing the murderous glower she could feel burning her forehead.
Steve spun to face his brother, holding up a hand to stop his determined approach.
“Enough, Thad. I’m at the end of my patience with you. This has gone on long enough. So far, your time here has been nothing of worth to me or to you, nor shall it be. Not this version of my brother, at least. This is not Dagda’s palace, Daeanna’s bedchamber, or any place where you once held some value in the Seelie world. You are inmyhome, in themortalplane, and Goddess hear me, should you bring another blade into my home with any ill-intent planned toward those I care about, Iwillstrike you down without hesitation and finish the job Thierry failed to complete on the battlefield.”
To Rori’s surprise, Thaddeus stilled, his shoulders stiffening. Did he just…grimace?
“Well, at least those pointy ears can hear clearly.”
Steve cast her a lingering glance over his broad shoulder, his silver eyes dimming to a slate gray as curiosity crossed his expression. One brow furrowed thoughtfully. Rori rubbed the warmth from her cheek and shook her head.
“Sorry. Out of context.”
“I don’t think it is, Rori. At first, I thought maybe you connected with some sixth sense. Now, I’m beginning to think not.”
“What are you talking about?”
