Laughing probably wasn't the best reaction, but I couldn't help myself. His face was so serious, as if he couldn't possibly imagine a scenario where I would refuse his proposal. As if he had forgotten how he had used me, tossed me aside, and then betrayed me.

He launched himself out of the throne and surged toward me, fury sparking a light in his dim eyes. Smith inched closer. The casual observer might think he was preparing to protect his king, but I felt his hand settle on my waist, fingers tensing to pull me behind him to safety if needed. There was something more to this soldier than I knew, but right now, with Calix bearing down on me, my brain short-circuited. Danger and desire coiled together, making me breathless as he jammed his finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"You dare to mock me?"

A craving—almost as strong as the kind the Druil blossoms created—blossomed in my gut, and I focused on Smith's touch to stay grounded. Adopting a neutral, maybe even slightly bored expression, I shrugged.

"I was not mocking. Only laughing at the joke you made, Your Highness."

He sneered. "Don't flatter yourself."

"How is that flattering myself? Quite the opposite."

"No, you think it's a joke because you're thinking like an idiot human."

Anger coursed through me. Could I move fast enough to pull my head back and bite the damn finger he dug into my chin? It would almost be worth trying.

"See," Calix continued, leaning so close his breath fanned over my face. "You dismissed my proposal as funny—outrageous, even—because you're thinking about it as a love match. And for what other reason would I marry you? You're passably attractive. For a human. But I've already fucked you. Once was enough."

His head snapped back as my fist sunk into his eye socket, and before he could do more than roar with rage, I twisted and pulled Smith's dagger from his belt, placing the cold metal against the king's throat.

"Don't look so surprised," I purred, increasing the pressure on the blade. "You taught me that little trick yourself." Lightning turned the sky purple, and thunder shook the castle.

"Stupid me," Calix replied.

He didn't look worried about the predicament he found himself in, and he hadn't ordered Smith to disarm me. Then again, when you had the power to turn to black mist or draw lightning from the sky, it probably took a lot to worry you. Certainly, a small, weak human with a knife wasn't something to give you pause.

Still, I loved how powerful I felt right now. One slight movement and blood would well up and trickle down his golden skin.

"Luna," Smith whispered, reaching around and putting his hand over mine. My breath hitched. "You've made your point."

Taking the knife, he returned it to his belt and drew me back half a foot from Calix. The king swiped his thumb over the spot where the blade had been, and there was a slight red smear. Guess I had cut him after all.

As the adrenaline left my system, I started to shake, but it did not show in my voice. "Since I am so dumb, please explain why you think I would marry you?"

"Oh, that part is simple."

A snap of his fingers sent the guards against the wall lurching into motion. They opened the door and dragged Jones into the room. Without speaking, they threw him at Calix's feet.

"What have you done to him?" I shouted, spying the darkened blood on his brow and bruises on his cheeks. More blood crusted around the ropes binding his hands in front of him. I glared at Smith. "You said he was safe."

"I'm fine, Luna," Jones insisted. "They've given me quite the Summer Court welcome."

"Now," Calix said, curling his long fingers over Jones' head. "You can say yes, and I will spare your friend's life. It's quite merciful of me since I am in completely within my rights to execute him for entering our Court without permission."

"Yes—" Jones shook his head, and Smith tensed beside me. "I will marry you."

"Excellent. I thought you would see it my way." He snapped again, and the guards returned, dragging Jones away.

"Wait, let him go."

"After the wedding, I will set him free, but not until then. Otherwise, you might change your mind."

Fuming, I looked away. He wasn't wrong. "Why do you want to marry me?"

"If you haven't noticed, we're having a bit of a problem with our human population."

"I haven't noticed because I've never seen another human in Faerie. I'm starting to think they're a myth."

Hands drifting toward his throat every so often, Calix made his way back to his throne. I needed to not interrupt him so much. Now that he had my agreement, he might not explain anything else if he grew tired of my presence.

"That's because after the Vow, all the unbound, earth born humans went into hiding. They didn't trust the Fae to treat them well."

I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to make a snarky comment. Instead, I nodded in understanding and gestured for him to continue.

"I want those humans to return. They are part of Faerie. It will make us whole, and as the first earth born human to come to Faerie in centuries, you are the perfect person to lure them out of hiding. When they see that you are queen, then they will trust that we mean them no harm."

"But do you?" I blurted out.

"Do we what?"

"Mean them harm?"

Calix jerked his chin at Smith. "Take her away from my sight."

Smith nodded and grabbed me. We had almost reached the door when Calix called out for Smith. I looked over my shoulder and swallowed hard at the sight of him watching me with such hatred in his gaze.

"Yes, Your Highness?" Smith responded.

"She is to be punished for her little display in here. I will let you know once I've decided what that punishment is to be."

"Are you to carry it out, my king, or am I to do it?" Smith asked in a monotone voice.

Calix grinned. It was a wicked, haunting smile. "Why don't you think of a punishment, and I will think of one? If I choose yours, then I will have you deliver it, but soldier—"

"Yes?" A harsh note crept in.

"If yours is too soft, then she shall receive both."