"Just answer the question," he commanded.

Her lips flattened, as if annoyed by his tone. "I love my family, I truly do. But..."

"But?"

"I'm not like them."

Finn gave a short laugh. "No s.h.i.t."

She arched a brow. "What does that mean?"

He shrugged. He wasn't about to admit that he refused to believe he could be attracted to a female who was truly evil.

That was just lame.

"Why are you different?" he instead demanded.

She lowered her head. Did she know that her face revealed her every emotion?

"I don't care about power or wealth or being a ruler of a tribe of Sylvermyst," she muttered.

She trembled, and Finn slid his hand down her back before he could halt the soothing gesture. h.e.l.l, he didn't want to halt it.

He wanted to feel the heat of her body that seeped through the loose robe. And savor the scent of rosemary that suddenly spiced the air.

"There's more than that," he said in a husky voice.

She gave a slow nod, unconsciously swaying toward him.

"It's wrong to turn the sprites into slaves," she said, slowly lifting her head to meet his searching gaze. "Just as it was wrong for us to be enslaved. I can't stand aside and let that happen."

His hand splayed across her lower back, urging her even closer. "If you felt that way then why did you help them?"

"They're my family. Without them I have nothing."

"You have your honor."

Anger at his soft reprimand darkened her platinum eyes. "And how long would I survive alone in a world surrounded by my enemies with just my honor?"

She was right, of course. A lone Sylvermyst needed the protection of a tribe to survive. Finn, however, didn't want her to think she had to remain at the mercy of her family.

"Perhaps you aren't as alone as you fear," he murmured.

Their gazes locked, a strange sizzle of antic.i.p.ation zapping through Finn.

Something had just happened. Something big.

But before he could actually define what it was, she was taking a step backward, her heart pounding so loudly he could hear the frantic beat.

"We should go," she rasped.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her captive. "Not you."

She blinked in surprise at his fierce tone before her lips were flattening in frustration. "You don't trust me."

He ignored her accusation.

"What will happen if your family discovers you've helped me?" he demanded.

"I..."

His lips twisted as her words trailed away. She didn't have to tell him. He was well aware that her brothers would treat her as a traitor.

She would be punished. Perhaps even killed.

A stark, mystifying stab of pain sliced through his heart.

"Exactly," he snapped in harsh tones. "Return to your rooms, Adair."

She narrowed her eyes as she glared at him. "You'll never get out of here without my powers."

"I have my own magic."

"I know, but creating a portal in this place is extremely difficult."

He stuck out his jaw. "Dammit, female. I won't be responsible for putting you in danger," he snapped.

She blinked. Then blinked again.

"You're worried about me?"

Unable to resist temptation, he lowered his head and kissed her with all the frustration that bubbled deep inside him.

He sensed her shock before she released a small sigh, her lips parting in silent invitation. Finn dipped his tongue into the warm welcome of her mouth. He groaned. She tasted of sweet herbs and earthy desire.

A combination that made his head swim.

The air misted around them, tiny snowflakes floating on the air as his chilled powers meshed with her dark, evocative magic.

Glorious...

The word drifted through his stunned mind even as he was sharply pulling away. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with him?

Infuriated by his inability to think clearly when Adair was near, he moved with a blinding speed into the cavern. Then, turning, he gave a wave of his hands, unleashing his magic to fill the fissure with a thick layer of ice.

With her path blocked, the female had to accept that this wasn't her battle. Right?

She could return to the safety of her private rooms. And he could concentrate on the only thing that mattered.

Rescuing his people.

CHAPTER TEN.

Rya watched Torque march out of the room, his spine ramrod straight and trails of smoke following in his wake.

He was in a huff.

No doubt about it.

Oddly, Rya found herself pleased by the male's foul mood.

Not because Levet managed to annoy him. Okay, that wasn't entirely true. She might take an itsy bitsy amount of pleasure in the gargoyle's unique ability to p.i.s.s off Torque. But it was mainly relief that the stoic male could feel anything.

After the formal betrothal, Rya had been worried that her future mate was incapable of normal emotions. He'd been so detached during the ceremony while she'd been a quivering ma.s.s of nerves.

Now she at least knew he could feel anger.

And desire.

White-hot, all-consuming desire.

A tiny shiver racked her body.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Levet waddled to stand at her side, reaching up to lightly pat her hand.

"I am so sorry, ma belle," he murmured.

She glanced down at him in confusion. "For what?"

"That you're being forced to mate with such a surly brute."

Another shiver raced through her. If she was being honest with herself, she wasn't nearly so sorry about the upcoming mating as she'd been just a day ago.

In fact...

"He's not a brute," she breathed.

"Non?"

Her lips twitched at the patent disbelief in Levet's tone.

"No. Although I thought he was."

"And now?"

She took time to consider what she'd discovered of Torque over the past hours.

"Now I realize that he's serious, but he isn't stern," she slowly admitted. "And he's dedicated. And loyal. And-"

"Handsome?" Levet overrode her words.

Heat raced through her. Handsome was such a mundane word. Certainly it didn't capture Torque's potent male beauty.

"He is...gorgeous," she at last muttered.

The gargoyle heaved a deep sigh. "I thought vampires were trouble."

Vampires? What did bloodsuckers have to do with Torque? "Excuse me?"

"In my experience, females always choose the tall, dark and annoying creatures." The delicate wings fluttered as Levet gave a resigned shake of his head. "It makes no sense to me."

"You don't have a mate?"

The gargoyle paused, before delicately clearing his throat.

"Non. I have no mate. In my house, I do have a young fairy that I recently rescued, but I am merely her protector," he revealed, placing his hand against his chest as a soulful expression settled on his lumpy face. "It is my nature to spread my love," he explained. "Not to have my wings clipped."

"I see."

"It is my destiny to be a toy boy."

Rya struggled to hide her amus.e.m.e.nt. "You mean, be a boy toy?"

"Oui." With an airy wave of his hand, Levet turned his attention to their surroundings. "If you are forced to mate with the dragon-shifter I do hope you intend to improve his taste in lairs," he murmured. "My heart aches at the thought of you living in such a dismal place."

Rya aimlessly wandered toward the shelves that consumed the far wall, her hand lightly touching one of the precious leather-bound books.

"Torque has suggested we build a lair together," she said.

"Is that what you desire?"

A thrill of antic.i.p.ation inched down her spine. "I'm not sure. Just a few days ago I would have said no. Now...things have changed."

Levet clicked his tongue. "Ah well, do not blame yourself," he a.s.sured her. "Being in danger does tend to stir the emotions."

Was that it? Was danger responsible for her sense of bonding with Torque?

It would be an easy explanation. Unfortunately, it didn't ring true.

"Perhaps," she said with a shrug, eager to change the conversation. "Not that it matters until we manage to get out of here."

Levet started toward her. "We will escape. You can trust in me." He came to an abrupt halt, the gray eyes widening as if he'd been struck by inspiration. "In fact..."