"There isn't." Thaine's tone was gentle but firm. "Fae bargains are absolute. Once made, they stand."
Arion's expression darkened. "So transferring the throne transferred the claim."
"Yes." The word came from Eliam, sharp and bitter. "And as we saw at the border, he has no intention of releasing it."
Briar felt Eliam's hand find hers under the table, his fingers lacing through hers with almost bruising pressure. The warmth in her chest pulled toward him, seeking comfort, seeking home.
"There has to be a way to break it," Sian said, though her voice carried more hope than certainty.
"The only ways out are death of the bargain holder, willing release, or completion of terms," Eliam said. "But her bargain has no completion terms. She gave her life. That means it holds until she dies."
The words settled over the room like a shroud. Until she dies. Decades, if she was lucky. A lifetime of belonging to Malus.
"So we kill him," Karse said from his position against the wall. "Problem solved. Next?"
"He's the legitimate Forest King now," Eliam said. "Protected by laws and loyalties I no longer command. Getting close enough to kill him would require an army."
"Which would mean war," Arion said. "Something we're trying to avoid."
Briar found her voice, though it came out smaller than she wanted. "What if I just... went back? Maybe if I cooperated, if I didn't fight him—"
"No." Eliam's response was immediate, absolute. His hand tightened on hers. "That's not an option."
"But if it would prevent war—"
"I said no." His eyes had gone dark, that possessive fury she'd seen before rising to the surface. "I don't care if it would prevent the apocalypse. You're not going back to him."
"What about another bargain?" Halian suggested carefully. "If Briar made a new bargain that superseded the old one—"
"With who?" Karse asked. "And what would she trade that she hasn't already given? She bargained her life. There's nothing larger than that."
"She could bargain with me," Arion said quietly.
The room went completely still. Briar felt Eliam go rigid beside her, his hand turning to stone around hers.
"No," Eliam said, his voice deadly calm.
"It's an option we should consider," Arion continued, his eyes on Briar rather than Eliam. "I have the authority as a ruling prince. A bargain made with me could potentially—"
"She's not making a bargain with you." Eliam's words carried the weight of absolute refusal.
"There might not be another solution," Arion said, finally meeting Eliam's gaze. "If she's bound to Malus and we can't break that binding, then perhaps binding her to another court—"
"Would just add another chain," Eliam cut him off. "She'd still belong to my brother and to you. That's not freedom, that's making things worse."
Arion was quiet for a moment, and when he did speak again, his voice low.
"And when exactly did you start caring about her freedom? You kept her in your court, in your bed, under your control for months. You marked her, claimed her, paraded her in front of your entire court as your possession. So forgive me if I find your sudden concern for her autonomy a bit convenient."
The temperature in the room dropped. Eliam went completely still.
"Careful," Eliam said, his voice deadly quiet.
"No, I don't think I will be careful." Arion leaned forward, his expression harder than Briar had ever seen it. "Because this isn't about her freedom at all, is it? This is about the fact that she doesn't belong to you anymore. That Malus has what you consider yours."
"Arion—" Halian started, but the prince held up a hand.
"Tell me I'm wrong," Arion pressed. "Tell me that if I offered her a bargain that gave her actual choice, actual freedom to leave any time she wanted, you'd support it. Tell me you wouldn't fight just as hard against that as you're fighting against this."
