“That can easily be discussed later,” Caden interjected. I had a feeling it was about Caden’s impending engagement. I doubted that Tanner knew it had been canceled.
The male fae nodded. “Of course.”
“I’m actually glad you guys came by,” I said, moving so I sat on the chair across from a square ottoman. Caden’s head tilted to the side as he watched me. “I remembered something that Aric said—something I think you all need to know.”
Tanner sat in the other chair, and Faye moved to stand behind him. “What is it?”
“I wish I’d remembered this sooner,” I said, almost apologetically. “But things have been...” Kind of a mess in my head? I didn’t say that.
“It’s okay. I understand,” Caden said. “They understand.”
I lowered my gaze and took a deep, steady breath, clearing my thoughts. “Aric said that someone within the Summer Court has been helping him.”
Tanner went stiff while Faye became alert, but it was Caden’s reaction that I saw the most. He’d gone impossibly still, his chest barely rising as his jaw became as hard as granite. The air above his head seemed to ripple, reminding me of how flames distorted the air. My breath caught as the faintest outline of a…of a crown began to appear on his head.
“Go on,” he said, his voice deceptively level.
My heart thrummed as I stared at him. I’d only see the flaming, burnt crown and sword once before. Both seemed to have appeared out of thin air, and then disappeared again into it. The near presence was both fascinating and unsettling.
I swallowed. “He said that it was a member of the Summer Court who wished to see the return of Queen Morgana,” I told them. “I think…I think he went to meet with this fae while he had me.”
“Impossible,” breathed Tanner. “No Summer fae would ever want such an atrocity as she to breach this world.”
“Did he ever say how he planned to do so?” Caden asked.
I remembered, and I wasn’t sure if telling him would cause that crown to make a complete appearance. “He said that it was unlikely for you to complete the prophecy, but he believed he could force you to open the gates. Is that possible? Can you open the gates without the prophecy?”
A muscle ticked in Caden’s jaw. “I can.”
That seemed to be news to both Tanner and Faye. “How?” she asked.
“If properly motivated, I could open a gateway,” Caden said, the air settling above his head as his gaze held mine.
“You mean you could simply open one?” Faye asked. “Like turn a doorknob and…bam, it’s open?”
My heart started pounding as flickers of memories surged. Aric had been searching for the King’s mortuus, believing that he could use the person to force the King to open the gateway. It wasn’t until he figured out that I’d been given the Summer Kiss that he realized I was the mortuus.
“Yes,” Caden answered. “Obviously, that is information not widely known, and it needs to stay that way.”
“Obviously,” Tanner sputtered. “Especially with the Order. They would view you as a threat—”
“And that would be the last thing they ever viewed if so.” Caden snarled, and a shiver of goosebumps spread across my flesh. His golden eyes burned. “It’s not something I would do.”
Unless.
That one word wasn’t spoken, but I knew it hung in the silence between us.
And that was the moment I knew Caden’s reaction had more to do with what Aric could’ve shared with this Summer fae. Aric could’ve told the fae traitor that I was the King’s mortuus. His greatest weakness that could be used to control him.
“You can’t stay here,” Caden said. “You will stay with me.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. Partly because I hadn’t thought he’d say something like that in front of Tanner and Faye, and also because he thought he could just state that and I’d go along with it.
“I’m not planning to stay here forever,” I told him. “Luce said I just need to stay the rest of the week, and then I can go home.”
“I don’t want you to live here. I want you at my place where I can make sure you’re safe. If you don’t want to go to my place, I’ll take you to yours. Luce will just have to deal with that.”
A tumbling motion swept through my stomach. Caden and I staying together couldn’t happen. I obviously didn’t have the willpower necessary to keep from kissing him within five seconds of seeing him. There was no way I could do what I needed to do if he was living with me. No way at all.
Caden’s eyes narrowed.
I squared my shoulders as I lifted my chin. “I don’t recall asking you to stay with me or giving you permission.”
“I don’t recall needing either of those things.”
“Are you serious?” I demanded, rising to my feet. “Of course, you need my permission to stay at my house.”
He glared up at me. “Under normal circumstances, yes. But when it’s to keep you out of harm’s way, I don’t.”
“Yeah, that’s not some unspoken law or something. And even if it were, I don’t need to follow it. I’m not fae. You’re not my King.”
“Um,” Faye murmured, shifting from one foot to the other uncomfortably.
“I know exactly what I am to you.” Caden rose to his full height, but he didn’t step toward me. I gaped at him. “This isn’t up for discussion.”
“That we can agree on, because you’re not staying with me.”
His smile was slow, predatory. “Then you’re staying with me.”
“No, I’m not!” I shouted. “I’m staying here until I can go home at the end of the week and sleep in my own bed—”
“I like where this is heading,” he cut in.
Tanner made a choking sound.
I stepped forward. “By myself. I’m going home at the end of the week. By myself.”
He quirked a brow. “We’ll see.”
Anger flashed through me hotly. “We won’t see crap. You’re not—”
“Okay. Let’s all take a breather.” Tanner had stood, holding up his hands. “No matter where Brighton decides to go at the end of the week, I am sure that she is not in any danger here. Aric is dead, and if what he said was true, which is unlikely, no Summer fae would seek to harm her, especially not here.”
“I will rip the skin from any fae who even has the smallest inkling of looking at her in a way I do not like,” Caden bit out.
My eyes widened. “That’s a bit excessive.”
Caden didn’t take his gaze from me. “That’s your opinion.”
My hands curled into fists. “That’s a mentally healthy opinion.”
“You know damn well that it’s not excessive,” he all but growled.
“If you’re worried about Brighton’s safety, I’m sure that Ivy or even Faye would be willing to stay with her after she leaves. I will also make sure she’s watched while here,” Tanner tried again, and Faye nodded while I bristled at the idea of being under surveillance, even if necessary.