“I used to be like you, stepping over bodies in the street because staying alive was all that mattered. But when I started helping others, it was the first time I felt like I actually had a purpose.”
Vaeris’s expression darkened. “You call this purpose?”
“I saved lives,” I snarled. “You have power, and you waste it.”
“I did what I could for you.”
“You gave me scraps while you lived in luxury.”
“Luxury,” he sneered. “They call me Halfbreed to my face. Every day I have to prove I deserve to exist in their world. I’ve had to fight for respect.”
You never fought for me.
My eyes burned. “Can you get me out?”
“I’m doing everything I can to make my father reconsider.”
That echoed inside me hollowly. He’d whispered promises before. Usually in bed, when he made me feel like I was more than a toy he stole between court sessions, and now he was doing it again.
“Don’t pretend.”
“I’m not.” He cupped my cheeks, his thumb brushing off a tear. “The king needs to understand what you can do. Your abilities are too valuable to throw away.”
His hand slid to my shoulder, pulling me against him.
No.
But I let him draw me close. His warmth seeped through his tunic, and I hated that my body remembered how to fit against his—head tucked under his chin like he hadn’t humiliated me at Henrik’s house.
A pathetic part of me wanted to believe him. I wanted to look at his face and see love, not sorrow.
He stroked my hair, and bile rose in my throat.
This was a lie.
“I’ll fix this,” he murmured. “I swear.”
And when you don’t?When dawn came and they dragged me to the block, Rheya would be alone. Vaeris wouldn’t spare her a thought.
I gripped his arms. “You have to find my sister. Protect her.”
“You have my word.”
That’s worthless.“I want a faerie deal.”
He pulled back, frowning. “You don’t trust me?”
“I used to.”
His hands dropped from my waist. “Sweetling, you have no idea what you’re?—”
“I know what I’m asking.” Faerie deals were binding runes, carved into flesh. Fail to fulfill them, and you died. The fae used them to trap humans in impossible bargains, but right now, I’d take an unbreakable vow over his empty promises.
“I can’t.”
“Fine.” I met his gaze steadily. “Then I’ll inform the queen how you knew about my abilities and watched me shatter runes.”
Vaeris stilled. “Aelie.”
