“
Barrons’ hand shot out and closed around V’lane’s throat. “You lying fuck.”
V’lane grabbed Barrons’ arm with one hand, his throat with the other.
I stared, fascinated. I was so discombobulated by recent developments that I hadn’t even realized Barrons and V’lane were standing face-to-face on a crowded dance floor for what was probably the first time in all eternity—close enough to kill each other. Well, close enough for Barrons to kill V’lane. Barrons was staring at the Fae prince as if he’d finally caught a fire ant that had been torturing him for centuries while he’d lay spread-eagled on the desert, coated in honey. V’lane was glaring at Barrons as if he couldn’t believe he’d be so stupid.
“We have larger concerns than your personal grievances,” V’lane said with icy disdain. “If you cannot remove your head from your ass and see that, you deserve what will happen to your world.”
“Maybe I don’t care what happens to the world.”
V’lane’s head swiveled my way, cool appraisal in his gaze. “I have permitted you to retain your spear, MacKayla. You will not let him harm me. Kill him—”
Barrons squeezed. “I said shut up.”
“He has the fourth stone,” I reminded Barrons. “We need him.”
“Keltars!” V’lane said, staring up at the foyer. He hissed through his teeth.
“I know. Big fucking party tonight,” said Barrons.
“Where? Is that who just came in?” I said.
Barrons leaned closer to V’lane and sniffed him. His nostrils flared, as if he found the scent both repulsive and perfect for a fine, bloody filet.
“Where is she?” a man roared. The accent was Scottish, like Christian’s but thicker.
V’lane ordered, “Shut him up before his next question is, ‘Where is the queen,’ and every Unseelie in this place discovers she is here.”
Barrons moved too fast for me to see. One second, V’lane was his usual gorgeous self, then his nose was crushed and gushing blood. Barrons said, “Next time, fairy,” and was gone.
“I said, where the bloody hell is the—”
I heard a grunt, then the sounds of fists and more grunts, and all hell broke loose at Chester’s.
”
”