“I heard whisperings about Luz being gone and how the return of magic depends on a puny human.” The corner of his lips curled up, heat simmering in his gaze. “I assume you’re the half-breed.”
“Proud of it, too.” I evened out my expression, trying not to show him how much his comment irked me.
His smile widened as if he knew what I was doing. “I have a proposition for you. I will tell you the information I know…. if you agree to be my mate.”
“You’re not a foreplay kind of guy, huh?” I drawled, and his lips quirked. Tyran was suddenly at my side, his expression more vicious than I’d ever seen it. “I thought mates were fated?”
“Unlike the Fae, we have free will and are able to bind ourselves to another that is not mated.”
“Jedrick,” Ty snapped warningly.
I waved him back. My outward appearance was more relaxed than what was going on inside. Quite frankly, I was freaking out. The breeze picked up. “Why should I agree to that? From what I understand, the return of magic benefits you just as much as us.”
His expression turned bitter. “Not at all. We have been happily living out our lives on my lands. Something came up where having a future alliance will be beneficial. But either way, I could live without magic ever being released. Agree, and I will tell you what I’ve heard.”
I wanted to tell him to stuff it. I got the stinging feeling that he was lying. Jedrick’s smile had an edge to it. He needed something. I sensed it.
“Why do you want a mate?” Cora interjected tightly, saying what had been on my mind. His eyes narrowed, and I wanted to smile at his displeasure.
“If what you want is an alliance, you have one. Just tell us what you know,” I said, my tone cajoling.
“It’s not enough. You must be loyal to me and only me. You will show this by being my mate. We can iron out the details at a later date,” he said in a clipped tone. An emotion other than mocking flirtation showed. “Take my deal or I will tell you nothing.”
My chest tightened. But the resolve on his face made me hold my tongue. “How do we know the information is any good, anyway?”
He smiled, and I wanted to throw something at him. I was tired of these arrogant mercurial assholes surrounding me.
“How are we supposed to know it’s a reliable source?” I prompted again, ignoring the tightening of his eyes.
“If you don’t succeed in freeing magic, then our deal will be void.” His smile was deliberate. “So, there should be no need to worry otherwise, correct?”
I couldn’t argue with that. Out of options, I nodded, despite the nervousness eating at my stomach. “I agree to those terms.”
Tyran hissed from behind me.
“The goblins in the human world know the rest of the prophecy.” The perfect grin that spread over his face sent chills over my body. Both the good and the bad kind. This guy was not one to mess with. He turned and strode back to the carriage as I stared at him, agog. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Jedrick slid in between the naked women, and the curtains closed as their hands began petting him.
Great. How the hell was I getting out of that deal?
A part of me hesitated. Should I even look for a way out? Being with someone who knew where I stood would solve a lot of issues. An urge to smack myself at that thought filled me. I didn’t need to be with anyone. I sighed and tossed that depressing thought to the side.
“He has an agenda,” Rian said, looking after the departing carriage
“Maybe they want to have their mating back to procreate?”
Tyran snorted and shook his head. “That’s the last thing that miscreant wants. Where the Fae became more reserved, the Elvin did the opposite.”
“They also have more female than male. They are fully opposite to us,” Ty said, emphasizing us. Smooth, Ty, real smooth.
“No, there is more at work with that one. We will need to prepare for the fallout of what you just agreed to. Because being tied to that man would be hell for any woman,” Cora said, and warmth spread through me at the support.
“I will have to go find the goblins and see what they say about a prophecy,” Conan said. Cora’s face tightened, and she grasped Conan’s hand. He looked down at her with a regretful look in his eyes. “Hopefully, I wouldn’t be gone too long.”
The damn prophecy was the bane of my existence.
“I wonder how Sabine and Roark’s darkling found the one line of the prophecy.”
“Darkling’s can do many things if they offer the right sacrifice,” Ty said, inching closer.
Cora’s lip curled. “Darklings.”
If Conan went to the human world, he could come back with an answer soon. Excitement slid through me.
The human world!
“Conan, could you do me a favor while you’re human-side? Could you check in on my sister?”
He smiled kindly and nodded. “Of course, Rae.”
Utterly relieved, I reminded myself to give him the address before he left. We all trudged back in the direction of the castle, Conan and Cora grasping onto each other while Conan and Rian talked strategy. For the most part, I tuned them out, but a word stuck out. Dragons were real? I hoped it was just some figure of speech…
Fingers crossed that he’d find something about the damn prophecy that had caused me so much shit. More importantly, I wanted good news on Annie when he came back. I missed her, and the gnawing ache to see her grew every day.
I rubbed the back of my neck and tried not to tense when Ty’s hand slid over my shoulder and squeezed. I smiled at him, grateful. “What was under the carriage pulling it?”
The featureless little dark creatures
