“What do you have for me?” he asked.
“Updates. Your Council keeps alienating useful people. I can persuade some of them to deal with you through me, but I need guarantees. I need to be safe. The humans in my life need to be safe. If you can’t guarantee that, then we need to end this now.”
“We don’t need you,” he scoffed.
“No, but you need a seer, and you can’t trust Eloise. You can count on mine. You saw her; she’s pure innocence. And she’ll only speak to me. In fact, she already has spoken to me.”
He stared at me and seemed to realise I was telling the truth. “Tell me then, you pest.”
“After we shake on a deal,” I insisted.
“Fine, if you tell me what you know, I’ll ensure your human friends and family all remain safe.”
“All of them,” I repeated.
He echoed my words, and I shook his hand, gripping it tightly as a jolt of electricity shot from my hand to his.
He jerked backward, horrified. “What was that?”
“A little borrowed magic,” I said, smiling again. “It’s weird that it took a complete stranger to let me know what I can really do, but wow, it’s nice to know that it worked. It’s nothing personal, though. Just something to make sure you stick to your end of the bargain. Those fae deals are a kicker.”
“A fae deal?” he said, horror growing in his eyes.
“Yeah. Those vampires really didn’t have a clue what they had in those twins. They’re pretty amazing. Anyway, there’s no need to worry. You won’t be hurt, unless my humans are, of course.”
He stared at me, speechless with shock, and I couldn’t help grinning again.
“Get out,” he hissed.
“Don’t you want to hear what I learned?” I asked. “Isn’t that why we made the deal?”
“I regret the day I ever stood for you,” he said, full of emotion for the first time.
“Because I’m making you keep your word? I thought you might.” But I felt sad for some reason. “Koda’s dying. As in, soon. And the person you wanted me to keep an eye on is ready for some change.”
“Is that it?” he snapped.
“You do need me,” I said, more softly. “We can help each other. You’re not like them, are you? You wouldn’t be going to all of this trouble to get credit for some decent actions just to screw it up with a few bad decisions, like sanctioning the murder of an innocent to prove a point. People keep telling me there will come a time when I have to pick sides. I think I already have. Now it all depends on who is with me, and who is against me. And trust me, Gabe, I’ve learned enough from you people. You don’t want to play against me.” My words came out steadier than I felt.
I got up to leave, but he grabbed my hand. “Take it away,” he said. “Take the deal away.”
I shook my head sadly. “I can’t. You’re the only one who can do that.”
“How?”
“You’ll have to figure that one out. But you could start by being honest with me for a change.”
He stared at me, and I realised he was shaking. What the hell was he so scared of all of a sudden?
“You’re not what I thought you were,” he said. “Nothing’s what I thought it would be.”
“Tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with the slave market, or the way it was covered up in the end?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t. Nobody has ever come to me or admitted it. I swear I have nothing to do with that.”
“But you have your suspicions.”
“Suspicions are not enough. I need proof.”
“So find it. If you’re man enough.”
I left him with that thought, wiping away a trickle of blood from my nose and ignoring the shooting pains behind my eyes. Cam had warned me that transferring the fae power would come at a cost, but I felt the price was worth it.
I was playing with fire, and I knew it, but I wanted everyone on edge, and I had to stand close to the precipice to push everyone over. I wanted them all to feel suspicious and unsettled because then they would start making mistakes. And I was more than willing to take advantage of those mistakes. If the vampires showed up for war, I would make sure the entire country knew to defend themselves, and when the right moment arrived, I would ensure that change came. One way or another.
###
Thank you for reading Taken (Ava Delaney #4)—for more information, check out Claire Farrell’s blog or email the author. Sign up to be notified of new releases.
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