Fury blazes in Monty’s eyes. I feel his magic surge. He steps forward, but Pink places a hand on his chest and holds him back.
Gray however, slinks menacingly forward. Mal is leaning nonchalantly in the doorway, seemingly utterly at ease with whatever his mate is about to do.
The fey holds his hands up in a placating gesture. I see the unease flicker across his eyes. Good. I’m glad that even fey are wary of angry demons.
Gray has never met Laurie, as far as I know. But the little incubus understandably has a thing about people being bought and sold for sex. And Laurie’s mother did claim he was going to be given to a fey. An unwilling arranged marriage is just a fancy word for sex slavery.
“I have the gift of foresight,” the fey says hurriedly. “I have not met Laurie yet. I do not know where he is right now.”
Gray lets out a little growl. Maybe he does understand the fey language, or maybe he is simply going by tone and body language.
“I know Laurie will come to mean a great deal to me!” the fey all but blurts. Gray has definitely got him worried. “And Laurie will likewise hold me in high regard.”
I look around and realize everyone is staring at me again. Oh crap. I clear my throat.
“Um… He has foresight, and he is being cagey about it, but I think he’s saying in the future he and Laurie are going to be in love.”
Monty’s expression is nothing short of thunderstruck. Pink looks utterly taken aback too. I know my mind is floundering.
Love. Love changes everything. Laurie doesn’t need saving from love. And of all the forces in the world, love is the one that might be strong enough to inspire a fey to do a good deed and offer a generous deal.
“In that case, it sounds like a good deal,” says Ned from under his large umbrella.
I think he’d agree to anything to keep his children safe. I slowly look around at everyone else. They all nod. Ned’s not the only one who thinks it’s a good idea. I think everyone has realized that love completely changes the equation.
I turn back to the fey.
“We agree.”
Because, love aside, it’s not like we have anything to lose.
The fey gives his creepy smile again. His hand goes to the left side of his chest. I have no idea if that is where his heart is or if he even has one, but it seems likely.
“I, Prince Selwyn Y Mabinogi, decree that this house and grounds be a sovereign territory of the current inhabitants. I grant dominion in exchange for possession of the amulet.”
He stares at me expectantly.
I stare back. He is a frigging prince? I don’t know why I am surprised. It is exactly what Monty’s mother said she was going todo. Hide Laurie away until he can be married to a fey prince. But we all thought she was crazy. But we also thought the fey would never make it through the veil.
Prince Selwyn’s eyes narrow. Oh shit, he is waiting for me to reply.
I cough. “I… um… Jade Freeman agree with those terms.”
The glint in the fey’s eyes makes my blood run cold. Fuck. I really hope making a deal was not a mistake.
With shaking hands, I lift the amulet over my head. I walk down the steps and hold it out to him on an outstretched arm.
He steps forward, takes it, and… disappears as if he was never there. I blink and stare blankly at the spot he was just standing in.
Suddenly, I’m in Flyn’s arms and I can’t breathe because he is squishing me so tightly. I can feel his relief. His joy. I can hear my friends’ excited chatter.
Oh my goddess, is everything truly going to be okay? Can I dare to hope?
Is the future suddenly and unexpectedly bright?
Chapter twenty-nine
Flyn
