“How do you propose to leave the realm?” she asked, trying not to panic. Only a select group of Fae possessed a key between the human realm and this one. Kane wasn’t select, nor was he Fae. She had planned to steal Leopold’s for her own escape, but that was now an impossibility.

“Like this.” Kane withdrew a flesh-colored glove from his pocket—a key. “Before you ask, I stole it. And no, I’m not ashamed and I won’t return it.”

“I don’t want to chastise you, you silly man. I want to pat you on the back. Now, do you know how to use it?”

“Yeah.” He quickened his pace.

She expected some of the guards to chase him, no matter what her father had said, and she expected guests to try and pass him, desperate to get away from the fires, but he was moving too fast for anyone to catch. Within seconds, he was at the front gate and he wasn’t even winded.

He fit the glove over his hand and waved from high to low, side to side, in the shape of a door. A sheet of the landscape fell away from every place he touched, leaving a black hole.

“Think about where you want to go, and step through,” she hurried to explain, even though he’d claimed to know what to do.

He stalked into the darkness, and then, suddenly, they were out of the realm of the Fae and in the realm of the humans. Tall buildings knifed on both of her sides. Harried people strode along narrow sidewalks. The scent of coffee and car exhaust and even urine filled her nose.

“Close the door,” she said, and he obeyed, once again waving his hand through the air.

He set her on her feet, took her by the wrist, and tugged her forward. “Let’s go. The door might be closed, but I want you as far away from it as possible.”

“Where are we?”

“New York. I want you masked by the crowd.”

Should have guessed, she thought. She’d been here before, and there was no place like it.

“What about your friends?” she asked.

“They’ll be fine.”

“You were going to leave me in their keeping?”

“For a while, yes.”

A while. How long was a while? Probably better not to know.

They walked for hours, and the more they walked, the busier the streets and sidewalks became. Any other time, the crowd would have bothered her, but just then her mind was too busy reeling. She was out of the Fae realm. She was with Kane. Maybe even married to him—had they truly finished the ceremony? They’d never kissed.

Didn’t matter, she supposed. For a little while, she would be safe from her family. She wouldn’t have to worry about being punished. She wouldn’t have to worry about the king hunting her down for a few days, at the very least. He would need time to plan a strategy against a man like Kane.

For the first time in her life, she was free.

Joy burst through her, and with the joy came an unquenchable desire to truly live. To do all the things she’d never dreamed possible. To fall in love, get married and—wait. She was already married. Maybe. She would have to talk to Kane about that. He probably hadn’t meant his vows. If he’d spoken any vows, that is. She could have slapped herself for not paying attention. For all she knew, she’d pledged to be his slave.

Whatever. It still didn’t matter. With this first taste of freedom, her entire world had changed. She’d already decided she was done accepting the abuse thrown her way. But now, she was done allowing fear to hold her captive. The future was hers to embrace, and she would hold on as tightly as she could.

Kane flicked a glance in her direction, did a double take. He stopped, and his eyes widened.

“What?” she asked, nearly bumping into him.

“You’re smiling.” There was a reverent tone to his voice, one he’d never used before.

“I am?” She reached up and patted her lips, and yes, she was smiling.

For the second time that day, his features softened. “You’re happy, and you wear it well.” But a second later, his cheeks blushed, and he turned away. “Come on. I haven’t slept in days and I’m about to crash. We need a place to stay.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

New York

WIFE.

The word echoed through Kane’s mind all through the night. He toyed with the ring William had given him, a simple gold band that should have been cool to the touch but wasn’t; the metal burned him and he wasn’t sure why.

Wife.

He had a wife. A woman forever bound to his side. She was his, and he was hers. Not just instinctively, but legally. The knowledge did something to him. Something powerful. Before, he’d only scratched the surface of possessive. Now, the sensation dominated. Tink. Was. His.

Want and need combined, creating a combustible fire. He burned. He ached. He yearned.

Finally, he would have.

His hand shook as he reached out and smoothed a lock of hair from her cheek. The long, thick length of her eyelashes fluttered open, and he found himself peering into beautiful baby blues.

After renting the room, he’d climbed into bed and tucked her into the curve of his body. She hadn’t protested. He’d left the lamps on, and now, golden light cascaded over her. She was curled on her side, facing him. Locks of dark hair spilled over the pillow and sheets.

He should have given her to Lucien, as planned. The warrior would have taken her to the Realm of Blood and Shadows, and Kane would have gone about the business of finding a way to kill the demon. But the arrival of the Phoenix had changed everything. He’d wanted—needed—Tink within his sights, his to protect from the flames.

Even though she hadn’t wanted to marry him.

Now, it was done, and there was nothing she could do about it.

“I’m your husband,” he said, almost angrily. He didn’t pull his hand away.

“Maybe,” she whispered.

“What do you mean, maybe?”

She traced a fingertip along the shape of her lips, as if remembering something—or yearning for it. “Well, I don’t exactly remember what vows were exchanged.”

“You agreed to be my wife, and I agreed to be your husband. That’s enough. It’s done. There’s no changing it.”

“We could, I don’t know...get an annulment maybe. We’ve both been prisoners, Kane, and I’m not going to be your new cage.”

“You aren’t a cage. You’re my everything.” Moving with a speed he usually reserved for the battlefield, he cupped the back of her neck and dragged her against him. The softness of her body collided with the hardness of his, and he had to grind his teeth to silence a hiss of pleasure. “No annulment. Later, no divorce. Death is the only thing that will part us.”

Her eyes flared with hope, only to quickly narrow with suspicion. “Are you going to be with other women while we’re together?”

“No.” And that was the truth. “I didn’t sleep with Synda. I shouldn’t have lied. I’m not a liar, and I won’t do it again. Not for any reason. I was hurt by what you said, and lashing out.”

A pause, as if she didn’t dare hope he’d spoken honestly. “Really?” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s pretty low.”

“I know. But not as low as actually sleeping with her would have been,” he added, hoping she’d agree.

Slowly, she nodded. “All right. I’ll give you that.”

He’d been devastated by her rejection, and he’d wanted out of that ballroom so badly he’d leaped at the first opportunity. Sleeping with Synda had never been a consideration. “I tucked her in to bed, then sat on the couch in the adjacent room most of the night, making sure she stayed put and out of trouble. At least, I thought I was making sure. She used a secret passage I didn’t know about and snuck out to have sex with Red in the garden.”

Tink slid her hand across the small space between them and traced her fingers over the center of his chest, where the dragon brand had been. The pleasure...it was too much, not enough. He hooked one of her legs over his waist, twining their bodies as much as possible while they were still clothed.

He could barely breathe, but he could do nothing until he’d told her the truth about him. He’d made too many mistakes with her to make another. She would think less of him, yes. How could she not? But he was going to be with her. Here. Tonight. He wanted this marriage cemented. And if he had a negative reaction to something she did, he didn’t want her worried about the reason or thinking he didn’t want her.

“The other women I mentioned...I told the truth. I was with them before I found you. I thought sex with them would make me forget what had happened in hell, that I’d forget about being helpless, but it only made me feel worse. Memories taunted me and I...vomited after every encounter.”

“Oh, Kane,” she said, shifting her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

No judgment. Just compassion.

Once he had thought he hated compassion, the cousin to pity. Not today. “You make me crave things I never thought I’d crave again.” He nuzzled the side of her neck. “I want to be with you, Tinker Bell.” Wanted everything she had to give.

“I...I...want to be with you, too. I want to smother your bad memories with good. I want to be all you know, all you see.” So softly admitted. “What I said at the ball, in the secret room...Kane, I believe in you. I really do. You are the strongest, bravest male I know, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being the reason your life was thrown into another war.”

Any remaining hurt was soothed.

War. Disaster laughed. I’ll give her war. I’ll make sure you break her heart before I kill her.

He wouldn’t break her heart. He wouldn’t let her be hurt...ever.

“Some things are worth fighting for, Tink, and I’ll prove it. Give me a minute.” Kane left her in bed and prowled through the room, stacking all lamps and wall hangings in the bathroom, then shutting the door and rigging the lock. Soft moonlight drifted into the space as he crawled back into bed.