Do all humans look that frail?Mr. Weak asked.I could snap her in half. How have you even kept her alive?
Tarian’s plan had been simple: threaten her and watch her dance. He’d been trying to show off her skills, for whatever reason. He’d manipulated her into looking like a fool.
“Not even remotely,” he whispered, pulling her in close until their energy buzzed between them. Their chemistry set her to vibrating.
The next point of view was just in his eyes, in those vibrant colors, watching her twirl and spin. Dance like a sprite. Like a wild thing. Beauty in motion. She felt the glow of his pride. His smugness at what she could do. He thought she was magnificent, and he wanted to show her off to his people. His toy was a rare and beautiful sight.
She shoved that sentiment away. Fool her once…
“And I assume this means you aren’t selling me.” She pushed away from him.
“There is not enough gold in all the kingdoms.” He held out her knife. “I want to make a deal with you.”
“I don’t make deals with fae.” She paused. “Except for the kissing thing, but you were cheating.”
He shook the knife a little. “You will need this. In the wylds and beyond, you will want a way to protect yourself. I want to allow you that freedom.But…I can’t have you killing myFallen. I know you will try. There are but tenunloved.” There it was again, that deep accent. “They are all I have. They are allyouhave. They are my protection, and because of that, they are yours. I will ensure you have plenty of enemies to kill. You’ll get as much blood as you desire. Just spare their lives. They are innocent in this, just as you are. I am the villain here. Ultimately, if you should kill me, that will be the end of it. You can try killing me as often as you like. I do so love the game. Aim for me, not for them.”
She really wished she could read his mind, to see if he was lying. He’d said he couldn’t, but how could she believe that now?
Quite easily,he said.I didn’t lie once a moment ago. Think over it and you’ll see. I told you I had a cunning way with words. I was not lying at that, either. All fae do, though some are better than others. I’ve had to become the best of them all.
She also didn’t know why he would barter on behalf of someone else. Almost offering himself up in their stead. That didn’t seem like his style.
Despite his words, she didn’t know how to trusthim. The recent situation still burned. She needed more pieces of his story.
“And you shall have them, before the end, though you will likely wish you hadn’t,” he said. “Regardless…” He held the knife higher. “I will return this to you if you do not try to kill theFallen.Not any of the ten. Not ever.”
She made afaceat him. “Really? Not ever? They come for my throat and I just whistle and look the other way?”
A smile tried to peek through his serious exterior. “I will return your knife?—”
“For how long?”
The smile grew a bit wider. “I will return your knife…forever, only borrowing it from you if your life is in danger or should you will it. In return, you will not kill or seriously harm myFallen,unless they are trying to kill you. If I should keep this weapon from you, the deal is off.”
“Any time I do not have that weapon in my possession, the deal is off.”
The smile was in full bloom now. “You continually surprise and impress me. You are also continuing to help me make a statement. Okay, let’s see if I can get this right…”
He couldn’t. They went at it for a few more rounds, tweaking and adjusting until each of them had a deal they could live with. When they were done, she wanted to sag in fatigue and hunger.
“Yes, let’s get back,” he said, handing over the knife and the sheath, which had dropped from her person in the struggle.
The others waited where she’d left them, not as straight and tall as when they first stepped into the path. They had a few more holes in their bodies too. A few more cuts and scrapes.
“Daisy, these are four of my tenFallen,” Tarian said as he limped beside her.
“What does that mean, the fallen?” she asked.
“They gave up their place in a proper society, and within a proper court, for me. I take their allegiance very seriously.”
She wondered why they’d do that for him but didn’t ask. She’d undoubtedly learn more through observation and analysis.
Tarian inclined his head, hearing her thought. “This is Lennox.” He indicated a male of about six-two with the muscular build that they all possessed, the mark of a warrior. His wheat-colored hair was half tied on the top of his head and then flowed down around his face and over his back and shoulders in gentle waves. A couple braids tamed a portion, but otherwise, it was loose and wild and more than a little pretty. His reddish beard had a ponytail-holder thing right at his chin with a metallic decal. Leather cords and amulets and leather braids circled his neck and hung down his heavily inked-up chest. Except for the one she’d cut off, which was clutched in his fist. A similar mess of tattooscovered his arms and dotted his legs. It was like he’d been in prison and gotten bored and started marking himself up. His nose was straight and came to a fine point, and his light brows hung slightly low over sky-blue eyes. He was a looker with terrible taste in jewelry, and looked exactly like the Vikings in the Chester history books. She wondered if those hadn’t actually been fae raiding and pillaging their way through the lands. It would make a lot of sense.
“Ryoden,” Tarian said, indicating a slightly slimmer male. He had black hair, straight, with that same topknot, a couple braids, and strands of his thinner hair flowing down his back. His head was half buzzed, with a wavy line through it as a decal. The other two had the same. She assumed the Viking had a similar style hidden within that mane. Ryoden didn’t have any facial hair, showing off his square jaw and cleft chin. Also a looker.
Let me remind you,Tarian said with an edge to his mental voice,what would happen should your lips land on anyone but me. I do not want to have to kill my own men.
