“I’m the dominant. My life force would overpower yours, no question.”

He sounded so sure, and part of her was tempted. I can be saved! But...was her life worth the trouble that would follow such a bond? “Thank you for the kind offer non-offer, but I’m going to pass.”

“Because of my horns?”

“No.” Those were oddly...cool, she thought now. And maybe just a little sexy.

Sexy? Nothing was sexy to her.

He deserved the truth. “You would want to have...you know.”

“Sex?”

Her cheeks heated as she nodded.

“You are correct,” he said. “I would.”

“Well, I wouldn’t. Ever.”

“You think that now, but I would change your mind.” He threw another pebble into the water. “Not that I would force you. I wouldn’t. That’s one of the rules I live by. I would wait for you to want it.”

“I’m telling you, no matter how skilled you think you are, you’d have to wait forever.”

He snorted. “I’d have you in my bed within the month, guaranteed.”

Her heart skipped a beat, something warm pouring through her veins. Something she’d never experienced before.

His head tilted to the side and his ear—his pointed ear!—twitched. “William has returned. He’ll be here in five...four...three...”

“You should go,” she whispered, worry thundering inside her chest. “Please.”

“One.”

William sailed through the double doors leading to and from the home’s living room. He crouched beside her and frowned. “Are you all right, poppet? The guards—”

“I’m fine,” she rushed out, turning to gaze at—Puck was gone. Just gone. And William had no idea, otherwise he would’ve focused on the intruder first. She breathed a sigh of relief. A fight wasn’t something she wanted to witness, especially since she could do nothing to help either—no. Scratch that. Help William. Only William. Of course.

He came first.

“What happened to the men?” He studied their sleeping forms, and she had the distinct feeling each man would be dead by morning—or wish he were dead.

“Someone happened to them.” I have to tell him, don’t I? “A man. Puck. He came here and moved so quickly I couldn’t even see him. The guards were no match for his speed and strength.”

William stood so fast she would bet he’d given himself whiplash. In both of his hands a dagger glinted in the firelight. “Puck. The keeper of Indifference. He’s sworn vengeance on Torin for trapping him in another realm. How did he escape?”

Puck had failed to mention anything about that. And really, Gillian couldn’t imagine him caring enough to exact vengeance against anyone. “How do you know what he’s sworn if you’ve never met him?”

“My spies. They are everywhere, poppet.”

“Or Torin told you,” she said drily.

“Did Puck say anything to you? Did the bastard do anything to you?” Antipathy dripped from every word.

“He told me about morte ad vitam.” As William cursed, she added, “You won’t hurt him for it. And you won’t kill him. Or pay someone else to kill him.” A girl had to cover all her bases. “I should have heard the truth from you, but I didn’t, so he kindly offered to help.”

“Offered. To. Help. How?” The last was spit into the darkness as William noticed the shirt draped over her.

On dangerous ground. Proceed carefully. “Promise me first,” she said. “Please.”

He remained silent as he ripped the shirt from her and tossed it into the water. She swallowed a whimper.

William scooped her up and carried her inside the house. She’d seen so little of the place. Only the path to her bedroom, really. A massive living room with sections of walls and ceiling strategically cut away to maximize daylight and ocean views. Floor-to-ceiling frosted glass windows welcomed nature inside while maintaining a sense of privacy.

A white couch curved into a half-moon, and two lounge chairs—also in white—offered a place to stretch out and relax in front of a stone fireplace with a lion carved on each side. The coffee table looked to be made of recycled wood he’d found on the beach.

“The verdict?” William asked, noticing her scrutiny.

“Clean, classic and yet homey, with touches of the ornate,” she said. “So, not really you.” He was extraordinary, unique and wicked. “How long have you owned the place?”