Brady grunted. “Let me just order one up for you.”
I shook my head. “But we don’t even know where the fae are kept!”
I glanced at Javi’s prostrate shadowy form and bit my lip. Hold on, please. Hold on.
Grayson shone his light on me. “Take that medallion off.”
“What? Why?”
“Just hurry.”
I pulled the chain over my head and handed him the necklace. “What are you doing?”
“Fairy trap,” Brady explained.
Not knowing what the hell they were talking about, I shut my mouth and watched as Grayson placed the medallion face up on the floor and nodded at Brady.
He lifted a ringed finger and they started chanting something in a language I couldn’t understand. The hairs on my neck bristled as a warm wind blew around us. The medallion lit up, the silvery light reflecting their serious faces.
I clutched my knife, terrified. I’d taken the medallion off and something told me the consequences would be grave, but how could I not help save my cousin?
“What’s happening?” I demanded.
“Shh. The fairy will come,” Grayson replied.
“We hope. We hope it’s a fairy. They’re not the only creatures that like silver magic,” Brady added.
Fear shot through me. My hand trembled as I held my knife. Whatever was coming couldn’t be worse than the vampire… I hoped.
“Don’t let it bite you.”
“Obviously,” Brady drawled.
“I was telling Rose.”
I flushed. “I’m not an idiot.”
Bright silvery wings lit up the prison. My eyes bulged. Her pale, triangular face came into view next, glowing violet hair swirling around her. Pink lips were curled back to reveal a row of sharp little teeth and her fingernails were long and curved. More like claws than hands. Definitely not the kind of fairy I’d seen in the books and movies. She was beautiful, but terrifying. Her dark ink drop eyes darted across the room and landed on the medallion.
“Now!” Grayson ordered.
Brady leapt with him, their guns raised. I followed with my weak ass knife. She whipped toward us and let out a high-pitched shriek that struck my every nerve.
“A gift. For a favor.” Brady stepped in front of the medallion.
The fairy smiled. “Beware. Beware. A fairy’s deal.”
He scoffed. “That’s why I said favor.”
She giggled. “It doesn’t work like that, human.”
“Tell us where the clinic is,” Grayson interrupted.
“Please! We need an anti—”
“Rose,” Grayson cut me off.
Brady shook his head at me in warning. My skin crawled as the fairy turned. Her stare drilled a hole right through me.
“Why should I help you?” She sniffed. “And not eat you instead? You smell delicious.”
I waved the knife in front of me. “Stay back.”
She turned back to the others. “What more do you have for me?”
“The medallion. That’s it. You’ll take it. Before the others do. You’re not going to find another conduit so easily. Not like this.” Brady stared her down.
He somehow found his voice now after leaving me with the vampire? Maybe it was more the fact that his whiskies were wearing off by now.
“Fine. I’ll take it.” She reached a gnarled, claw like hand toward it.
“Not so fast. Your part of the deal,” Brady demanded.
She clucked her tongue. “The place you seek is behind the warden’s head, but hurry fast… or your friend is dead.”
“Lame. You’d think you would have used all your prison time to get better riddles and rhymes.”
I shot Brady a dark look. What was he doing now, trying to piss her off?
Surprisingly, she laughed. “Funny human. Give me my medallion.”
“How do we know she’s telling the truth?”
Her head whipped toward me again. “I’m a fairy.”
“Fairies can’t lie,” Grayson explained.
“Oh. Right.” My cheeks flamed. I remembered something like that from the fairy tales.
“Let’s go. I know where it is,” Grayson urged.
Brady flung the medallion to her and we were off.
I glanced back at Javi’s cell, dread filling me. “Will he be okay? Maybe someone should stay with him?”
“You volunteering?” Brady asked.
“He’ll be fine. We stay together,” Grayson answered.
“Nobody made you captain, Gray,” Brady muttered.
“Do you know what she was talking about? Warden’s head?” I hissed as we ran back up the hall.
“His office.”
“Right.” I flushed for the second time. That made sense.
It was so painfully obvious how out of depth I was in this strange world. I sucked in my breath and hurried along with them.
Please, be okay, Javi.
21
We made it to the warden’s office without meeting any other escapees, though, the noises alone were enough to freak me out. What were those strange wails and would whatever it was leave my cousin alone?
Who knew how many prisoners were out now? I shuddered to think what would happen if they stumbled upon us. My little blade would be a joke. Even the fairy wasn’t scared of me.
“Wait.” Grayson stopped us.
A chill crept up my spine. What was it now?
“Let me go first. Make sure it’s clear. If the prisoners are looking for a way out… they might look in here.”
Crap. He was so right. I glanced around nervously, praying to God, I wouldn’t see any shadows moving against the black.
“Fine. Go,” Brady grunted. “Just… don’t be a hero, Gray.”
My eyes snapped in his direction. Maybe he didn’t hate Grayson as much as he portrayed. Maybe he actually considered him a friend if not an adopted brother?
Grayson didn’t respond. He motioned for us to get out of sight as he tried the door. “It’s still warded.”
“Of course, it is,” Brady drawled.
“Can’t we break it?”
“Break the door?” Brady chuckled. “It’s metal. How would we do that?”
“No, I mean the ward.”
“I’m trying,” Grayson growled.
“He gets pissy when he can’t perform,” Brady muttered to me.
Normally, I appreciated a sharp wit, but the reality of our situation made all humor vanish.
“It’s open.” He turned to us. “Stay here.”
“Yes, master,” Brady grunted.
My heart slammed against my chest as we huddled against the wall, watching and waiting. What was taking Grayson so long? Should we go in and check on him? Question after question raced in my mind.
“So… you and Gray, huh?” Brady broke the silence.
I sighed, wishing he’d shut up. A small red light glowed near his face. What
