Declanwasn’tbuilt for this.Neither him nor Antonio.But what else could they havedone?
What else could they do, now?Giving up would mean all of Antonio’s sacrifices were for nothing.The Council was in their vows.Antonio had used violence to make it happen.Endured a world he hated.
He’d done so much for Declan.Declan could hold tight to things for Antonio.They were fine, the human said.So Declan would be fine.
“The Council’s shit.”Voids, it felt good to say.“Half the time I think I’m back at a club on some horrid pills, hallucinating.Then I realize it lacks the unironic use of ‘as if’ from blokes in bucket hats.”
Hyacinth’s snicker felt good.Familiar in a way that didn’t hurt.
“No point focusing on the shit you won’t do.Waste of time.You’ve got until they kill you, so use it.”Hyacinth rapped the table, three hard knocks.“Tell me what you’re after.And not ‘save Faerie’ bullshit.Need to know what you’re hurting for.Friends?Connections?A few more seats cleared?”
“All of the above.But preferably connections that won’t wear only glamour to a party because they know Hollow can’t see it.”
Hyacinth’s blue-green eyes lit with sudden interest.
“Seats don’t come cheap.Got some people I’ll need to talk to.The rest though, that’s doable.Throw you and your bond a proper party.Friends, friends of friends, and seelie with potential who don’t want you dead.”
“Meeting those who don’t wish me dead would be a refreshing change.”
“There’s at least a few who can be coaxed to your side in the right company.”Hyacinth polished off his drink, setting the empty tumbler down with a solid thud.“It’ll cost.”
No surprise there.Hyacinth enjoyed being generous, but only to those he could keep in his debt.
“What have you got in mind?”
“I need to talk to someone.Think you might be able to arrange it.”
“My mother?Colm?”Declan couldn’t imagine why Hyacinth wouldn’t just approach them directly, but, the sidhe’s asks were often sideways.
“My dad.”
Voids.Hyacinth’s father, hishumanfather, was long dead.
Declan stared at him, lips parted on an instinctive“fuck right off”that didn’t leave him.All fae had their rules.Sidhe didn’t yield.Sluagh didn’t use their aspect to purposefully summon a specific soul.Some things simply weren’t asked for.
Any other fae would have seen the sharp end of his claws.
“Got a second offer?”he asked, instead.Anything else.
“Not asking lightly.”For a second, just a second, Declan could have sworn he saw a flash of vulnerability in Hyacinth’s eyes.“I need this, Declan.He didn’t go clean.”
No.From what Declan had heard, he hadn’t.
“Just the once?”
“Twice for every real connection you make.Means it’s on you, what the cost comes to.”
“Once for every three.And bonded pairs count as singles.”
It took another drink before they settled.One time for each unattached.One for bonded pairs, or three for every two pairs.And if Hyacinth’s father refused to speak or didn’t remember his son, it wouldn’t be considered a mark against Declan.
“You don’t breathe a word of this outside your bond.Not even to your clever mother.”
“And you tell no one.”
“I tell Orrim.”
Well, Orrim was as close to a bond as Hyacinth seemed likely to have, considering he’d turned down every offer he’d received.
