"You'll tell me where my sister is if you want to walk away from this with your life," Dorian countered.
"The deal, Prince," Aja said again.
Dorian shifted again. "What home?"
"Magnice."
With the end of the word, the Infi held out his hand. Dorian stared at him, his gut knotting with the notion of what the Infi wanted.
"What gives you any right to make deals for all the Infi?" Dorian asked.
"Just because we are cursed creatures does not mean we are mindless and incapable of organizing," Aja argued. "Our last leader was Parkyr. Our King. He had us come to the mountains long ago. Stationed close to Magnice and awaiting orders."
"You didn't answer my question."
Aja's smile widened. "I was among the firstborn of the original Infinari marked-Infi. There were three of us born that first cycle. I was left here in charge of this faction while my brothers were ordered to go with Parkyr until it was time for their assignments. Does that answer your question?"
Dorian eyed the Infi's outstretched hand. Watched the elongated fingers. Felt the thump of his heart as the Infi's information stilled between them.
"Don't," Corbin said behind him.
But Dorian stepped forward.
"You'll leave my people alone," Dorian repeated. "No more terrorizing them. Manipulating them. Harming and raping, and pillaging. None of it. You'll fight for me. And once this war is over, you'll have the Bryn—“
"And Magnice," Aja completed. "A small price to pay for the security of your people and home from the strangers on our shores, I think."
Dorian considered it. To give away his home. Even if most of it had been destroyed. The thought weighed on his shoulders.
But he remembered his home was no longer a place. Especially not that place.
He wasn't sure he cared if the Infi took it after this was all over. He could move his own people south to the other villages. Or to the north past the mountains into unexplored territories.
"Make the deal, Prince," Aja repeated.
Dorian locked eyes with the yellow-eyed creature before him.
"Save your family," he continued. "Secure yourself an army."
Dorian's fingertips were an inch from the Infi's. "And you just want peace? And a home?"
"Dorian, don't," Corbin begged.
But the Infi's hand brushed Dorian’s again. "That's all we want, Prince."
Heart pounding, Dorian eyed the fingers once more.
"Tell me where my sister is first," he said. "You say it is a measure of your good faith. Prove it."
Aja's hand pulled back and a pause washed between them.
Dorian started to speak again, but—
"A captive," Aja said.
Wind ceased, and Dorian went rigid.
"What?" Dorian managed.
