Perhaps this mortal female could be the one. It’s a foolish hope but one I must entertain, because this woman could be the key to everything. If nothing else, she’s mine to protect, to keep close. The woman who even now is creeping along the hallway outside our chambers is my responsibility. Her life or death is in my hands, and plenty more rides on these Bargains—but I can’t think about all of that right now. Not when I hear her feet padding down the stairway, each step soft as a whisper.
“She’s coming.” Faraday leans back in his chair, his ice blue eyes gleaming with interest. “Does she perchance have large breasts and a round backside?”
“She’smine,” I remind him.
He and Rivon exchange a look.
“What?” I roll my shoulders, trying to relax.
“Are you surewe’rethe ones who shouldn’t be getting our hopes up?” Fyan asks.
“Yes. I’m sure. She may have made it here, but that doesn’t mean much, not when she could die at any second.”
“That’s a bit of a stretch.” Rivon shakes his head. “Unless she’s ill or prone to accidents?—”
She coughs. The slightest squeak of sound, as if she was trying to hold it in.
“Or maybe she’s already come down with something. Mortals have such a weak constitution.” Fyan throws his knife into the wall she’s hiding behind.
I glare at him, then say, “Come along, little human. It’s feasting time.”
Her breath catches.
We all stare at the doorway. I count the rapid beats of her heart. She’s spiraling.
“We aren’t going to harm you,” I add in what I hope is a convincing tone.
Faraday gives me a look that says I fell rather short in that respect.
She swallows hard and still doesn’t move.
I grit my teeth. “If you don’t get in here, I’ll drag you in.”
This draws a look of reproach from Rivon.
I roll my shoulders again. Damn the gods, I’m on edge. Irritated.Bothered. Far more so than usual.
Shuffling steps, and then she appears. Now clean and dressed in a simple shift spun by the Firefolk, she doesn’t seem too much the worse for wear. No injuries that I can see. Good.
Her eyes wide, she stares around the table at the four of us.
When a Firefolk enters from the kitchen, she jumps back. “Don’t!” She holds up her hands as if to ward them off.
Lenka simply places a platter of roasted meat on the table, gives her a confused look, and returns to the kitchen.
“She was on fire.” She presses her back to the wall beside the door. “Sh-she was burning alive.”
“They’re Firefolk,” Fyan says. “What else would they be doing? Ice skating?”
“Fyan.” I shoot him a stern look.
He shrugs and tosses another knife in the air.
She flinches when he catches it.
“Put that away. You’re scaring her.” Rivon forks some meat onto his plate.
“Am I?” Fyan stares at her. “Do I scare you, mortal?”
