“Once McKale gives himself to me, his magical abilities will dissipate. He will no longer need them.”

In other words, he would be turned into a mindless zombie to do her bidding. His brain would not be able to process anything other than its obsession with her.

“Khalistah…” McKale’s apologetic tone prepared us for his next words. “I’d never want to hurt ye or upset ye in any way. Please believe that. But I cannot go to Faerie with ye. I want more than simple… pleasure from life. I want to be a father to me children, and work as a man should. I will not go along with this plan.”

The FFG let out a peeling laugh of disbelief and covered her mouth, surprised by her own outburst. The pixie, who’d been licking himself, raised his head to cackle as well.

“You do not mean that, McKale. Your mind is clouded from the physical intimacy you shared with one another. That was her intention. But that feeling is temporary and it will pass. I am simply speeding along the process to help you, so do not deny me again. I have your best interests at heart. I can assure that you will enjoy a life with me far more than a life with her. There will be no further discussion.”

“Yer right. No more discussion, Khalistah. With all due respect, I choose Robyn. It’s time fer ye to return to yer land while this all passes. I’m certain ye will find another male far more interestin’ than me.”

Khalistah turned toward me so quickly that the pixie squealed, flying off her shoulder to a nearby tree branch.

“What have you done to him?” Her icy blue eyes were terrifying in her anger, swirling like boiling silver. “You’ve poisoned his mind against me!”

Holy evil attention. This chick was crazy as hell.

“Khalistah, no,” McKale said.

She ignored his attempt to gain her attention and came straight for me, a tiny force of nature. I cursed myself for taking a step back instead of standing my ground, but dude, she was scary. Even in her fury, her voice stayed even and sweet.

“In your petty, vile, human jealousy you have turned the one source of goodness in my life against me. You have hurt me, and now you will hurt as well. I shall take the one thing you cherish most.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Cassidy is her name, yes? She will make a fine plaything for the Fae males. We already know she enjoys—”

“No!” I screamed. She’d gone too far. “I’ll never let you take her! Never!” My hands were balled in fists and I was ready to throw down, Fae royalty or not.

She smiled at my explosion. I’d proven she’d chosen correctly the worst way to punish me. McKale stepped close, angling partway between us, facing the FFG.

“Don’t do this, Khalistah. I beg you.”

She wore the stubborn expression of a spoiled woman. “She stole something from me. It is only fair.”

“I am surprised at ye, princess. I’d no idea ye could be so cruel.”

“Cruelty is when a choice is not offered. I will not be cruel to you, McKale. You have a choice. Will you come? Or will you let this Cassidy go in your place?”

McKale and I stared in horror at the determination in her eyes. One way or another she would have her way. She would either get to have McKale, or the satisfaction of hurting me by taking my sister. And I had no doubt she could make either one of those scenarios happen. She could take them both if she wanted, and I’d be powerless to stop her. What we needed right now was time.

McKale looked like he was prepared to argue. He obviously still believed there was some goodness hiding in her if he could get her to see reason. But squabbling was only going to make her madder. We needed her to think she’d won so we could have time to figure something out.

“McKale,” I said. “Please…”

Both sets of eyes were on me. McKale’s mouth was open from the argument he’d been prepared to give. He closed his mouth and blinked away the pain on his face before looking away from me and nodding.

“I will go with you after the binding,” he said to the FFG. “Take me.”

My insides lurched.

She reached up and stroked his jaw line. “Someday you will thank me for this, McKale. You see how quickly she chooses another over you.”

That wasn’t what I’d meant at all, but his posture stiffened. He couldn’t possibly know that I’d never throw either of them to the Fae! Oh, my gosh—what if we couldn’t find a way to fix this? What if he really went? Hot tears stung my eyes and I wrapped both arms around my waist.

From the corner of my eye I saw a slight movement in the distance. FFG was too focused on McKale to notice the mass of brown curls peeking out stealthily from behind the trees.

Rock.

There was no sign of mirth in the Clourichaun as his eyes locked to mine. We shared a moment of joined, silent panic.

“Seal your promise to me with a kiss,” Khalistah told McKale. My attention snapped back to them. No. Don’t kiss her!

McKale hesitated while she waited, patient.

“Please allow Robyn to leave us now,” he requested.

“She stays. I was forced to witness the two of you carrying on. Now she must do the same.”

I was going to be sick.

McKale bent down and gave her a peck on the lips. She barely had time to close her eyes before he’d jerked his head away with the tiniest of moans.

“Kiss me like you kissed her,” she demanded.

I closed my eyes. There’s no way I could stay and watch this. Willing to take a chance on a magical beat down, I sprinted away from them toward the path. Fast pixie wings flapped behind me, screeching laughter, but the creature didn’t follow for long. When I got to the edge of the forest my empty stomach convulsed and I bent over, retching with dry heaves. Salty tears rolled down to my lips.