Part 34 (2/2)

But even as she pivoted toward the door, she abruptly remembered that she couldn't just leave.

”Give me a second to write a note for Torque and then we'll go,” she muttered, crossing toward a low table.

She'd taken less than a dozen steps when a tingle of heat raced over her skin.

Uh oh.

Coming to a halt, she slowly turned to discover Torque standing in the doorway, his hands planted on his hips.

”Go where?”

She cleared her throat. c.r.a.p. She hadn't deliberately tried to leave before he returned to her lair, but she hadn't been opposed to avoiding the looming argument.

”Torque.” She managed a stiff smile.

The glorious sapphire eyes narrowed with suspicion.

”You said something about leaving,” he growled.

Rya squared her shoulders. She wasn't going to feel guilty for doing whatever necessary to rescue her mother.

”Levet has found someone who can open a portal into Ravel's lair.”

His gaze took in her defiant expression before moving toward the gargoyle. ”Who?”

Levet gave a flick of his wings. ”A friend. She will meet us at my house.”

”We have to hurry,” Rya said, walking forward.

Predictably, Torque moved to stand directly in front of her.

The only surprise would have been if he hadn't tried to block her path.

”No,” he growled.

Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits as flames erupted to swirl around her feet. ”Excuse me?”

There was a sudden sc.r.a.pe of claws against the tiled floor as Levet scurried toward the door.

”Perhaps I should wait outside,” he muttered.

Smart gargoyle.

Torque lowered his head until they were nose to nose.

”You're not going to risk your life with some unknown demon who might or might not have the ability to reach your mother,” he growled.

She met his glare without flinching. This sort of behavior was going to have to be nipped in the bud.

Or something a bit more tender on the male anatomy was going to get nipped.

”Do you a.s.sume becoming my consort gives you the right to tell me what I can or can't do?”

His jaw clenched, but he wasn't stupid.

”It gives me the right to protect you,” he cautiously corrected.

She pressed her finger to the center of his chest.

”Protecting and controlling are two different things,” she informed him.

”If something happened-” His words broke off, a soul-deep vulnerability darkening his eyes as he grabbed her hand to give it a gentle squeeze. ”I couldn't survive, Rya,” he rasped. ”Not without you.”

Her annoyance instantly faded, but she refused to back down. This was too important.

Torque was a predatory male who would walk all over her if she didn't take a stand.

”Just as I couldn't survive without you,” she said, her voice softening. ”But what if Baine was attacked? Would you be willing to step aside because it might put you in danger?”

His brows snapped together. ”It's not the same.”

”Because I'm a female?”

”Because I don't want to be reasonable,” he muttered.

Threading her fingers through his, she tugged his hand to her lips.

”You know I have to do this,” she murmured, pressing a kiss on his knuckles.

He heaved a harsh sigh. ”Then I'm coming with you.”

It was her turn to frown. It was one thing for her to risk everything to save her mother. But it wasn't Torque's responsibility.

”But-”

”End of discussion,” he interrupted in tones that didn't offer any room for argument.

Rya rolled her eyes in defeat. It was a waste of breath to try to convince him to return to his lair.

”We're going to have an interesting future together,” she muttered, stepping around him to head out of her rooms.

”We are indeed,” he said from behind her.

In silence they joined Levet who was pacing the corridor.

”We're ready,” she announced.

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