“We might be here for a while,” Bash said as he plopped down on the ground. “Sit down, Mackenzie, you shouldn’t exert yourself.”
I rolled my eyes. “All I’ve done is sit. Let me stand a little.”
“Yer Majesty—”
William was cut off by a sudden whoosh of water that made us all turn in the direction of the loch. We watched in quiet awe as the water split in half, opening the doorway to the Fae realm. In the center of the loch, Angus exited from the wall of water and began walking toward us.
Bash stood quickly and we waited until he was just a couple feet away from us. William stood protectively in front of me.
“Mackenzie MacCoinnich, what a pleasure to be summoned by you so suddenly,” Angus said coldly, his lavender eyes scrutinizing my every move and twitch. His blindingly white hair was long and straight, with his pointed ears poking out on the sides. His expression was stoned faced as ever.
“Angus,” I greeted him. “I’m guessing this isn’t much of a surprise.”
He gave me a fake smile. “No. Not at all.”
I tried to step forward angrily, but William stopped me. “What did you do?” I demanded. “What deal did you strike?”
He tilted his head like a robot. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t play stupid!” Bash yelled, pushing past me. “We know about the demon, Angus. Now tell us what you’ve done.”
Angus’s delicate hand fluttered to his chest. “I believe you have me confused with someone else. I haven’t done anything.”
“You son of a bitch!” I shouted. When I tried to run toward him, William grabbed me by my mid-section and hauled me back. I didn’t realize how angry I was until that moment.
Angus’s lavender eyes widened slightly in shock. “I don’t understand your anger, Mackenzie MacCoinnich.”
“You double crossed her!” Bash accused. “What kind of loophole was in that deal she made with you?”
His brows furrowed in confusion and then straightened in understanding. “You believe I sold your soul to Abaddon?”
“How do ye know about Abaddon?” William asked as he held me back.
“The birds talk,” Angus smirked. “Where do you think they’ve all gone?”
The Fae realm.
“How do we know you didn’t sell her soul? You asked for her blood,” Bash asked.
Angus nodded. “I did, but that’s all. There is no loophole in our bargain, and no ulterior motive. I wish you no harm.” He looked me straight in the eyes. “What you might want to do is look into your own family history.”
I frowned and relaxed in William’s arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Figure it out yourself,” Angus said as he slipped his hands into his pant pockets. “Heed my warning, Mackenzie MacCoinnich: Abaddon will come to collect. You are a rarity to him, and a deal was struck. Demons do not go back on their word. Unless you can offer him something better …” he trailed off.
It wasn’t me he was after, but rather the tiny human inside me. But I couldn’t tell Angus the truth. What the hell was going on?
Angus took a step toward me and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Careful of the monsters under your bed, Mackenzie MacCoinnich.”
A shiver skittered down my spine as I glared into his cold lavender eyes. I couldn’t ask for his help because that would be another favor, even though I was pretty sure that was what he was hoping for, another favor. I refused to do it. I’d figure it out on my own.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I muttered, my face grim.
He smirked. “Some monsters look just like you,” he said. “Beware. It’s the only free advice you’ll get from me.”
“Are you trying to say the demon looks just like me? Like a human?” I hurriedly said.
Angus shrugged. “If that’s how you want to take it, Mackenzie MacCoinnich.”
I growled. “Speak properly! I don’t like games!”
He chuckled. “My job is to forewarn you. You must do the rest.” He tilted his head. “Don’t you have the gift of foresight?”
I scowled. If I could see the damn future, I wouldn’t have come to him in the first place. Obviously.
“You’re a bastard. You would see me die before helping me,” I growled.
Angus snorted. “Is that what you think, Mackenzie MacCoinnich? I have more at stake in this than you know. I won’t let you die. At least not yet.”
Not yet. Meaning there would come a time when he would dispose of me, or he just wouldn’t give a shit.
“Is that a threat?” Bash snarled.
“On the contrary, young prince,” Angus said, his lavender eyes never looking away from mine. “It’s a promise.”
Infuriated by his cavalier attitude, Bash pushed Angus, making the fae stumble back. For the first time since I met him, he laughed. That son of a bitch laughed. He found my misery entertaining.
Angus winked. “You know where to find me. When the time is right, call me.” With that, he turned and headed back toward the loch, toward the entrance of the Fae realm.
After he disappeared and the water calmed into a peaceful body of water once more, I dropped to the ground and fisted the soil. Angus knew more than he was telling. He claimed he had more at stake than I realized. What did that mean?
“Don’t do what I know you’re thinking,” Bash said as he squatted beside me. He ran his hand up and down my back soothingly. “It’s not worth making a deal with the devil.”
“What do ye think he meant by looking into yer family history?” William asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” I muttered. “If it wasn’t Angus who made the deal, someone else did on our behalf. We just have to figure out who and why.”
“You think it’s someone in your family? Alexander would have said something,” Bash said.
I nodded in agreement. “He would have—if he’d known. The MacCoinnichs have many secrets. It’s time we start unearthing them.” I thought about the day Alexander was shot with an arrow by Raven in the middle of the village. He could barely speak, but he
