Anger warped her features, her eyes turning black as a starless night. Black veins crawled up her throat, inching along her jaw. Though her temper was already short, if this quick chat was enough to break it, then the king must be threatening to come out of hiding. “Fine,” I said, holding my hands up in surrender. “I’ll go to check on the little brat.”
“Go now and report back.”
“And what of my new friend?” I frowned, my gaze sliding to the listless form huddling in the corner.
“I’ll have Umbros take care of it. Yourfriendwill be in good hands until you return.”
“Umbros has been a touch busy as of late with his little toy,” I reminded Morg. “A toy that doesn’t belong here.”
“Thattoyhas a name, Soren,” Morg scolded, the black veins finally descending. “And he will kill you if he hears that you have been calling her that.”
“He could try, but seeing as though he has been attempting it for over a millennium, I doubt my calling her such would be the thing that does me in.” My gaze moved back to the demon I had found withmytreasure in hand the day before. My anger welled as I considered my options. “Leave Umbros be. He doesn’t know how to play with his prey without killing them. I’ll deal with this imbecile when I return.”
“Thank you,” Morg murmured, her eyes flicking toward the entrance of the room, impatient to return to her mate.
“Go,” I said with a jerk of my chin. “I’ll report back once I return.”
Stepping into the shadows, the world tilted away, whirling past me until I stepped in front of a low-lit dungeon cell. I stood quietly, taking in the cell and the female sitting on a chaise, immersed in a book. Cassia looked unharmed, but her blasé attitude about being stuck here suggested that she had been here longer than a few days.
Stepping to the iron bars, I released my magic, letting it bend the metal around me. I looked down at Cassia, taking the book from her hands and closing it. “You haven’t answered any of Morg’s letters. Why?”
“Hello, Soren,” Cassia smiled, eyeing the trinkets along my horns. “It’s been a while. You’ve gotten more ornaments since I last saw you.”
“Answer my question, Cassia,” I grumbled, my eyes narrowing on her.
Cassia’s face softened, her eyes lining with silver. “Is he okay?”
“That’s not what I’m here for,” I growled, taking a step closer. Gripping the back of the chaise, I leaned over her and put the book under her chin to lift her face. “I asked you a damn question. I don’t enjoy being a middleman between the two realms. Answer the fucking question so I can leave.”
“It’s rather hard to answer letters I don’t receive,” Cassia sighed. “They haven’t brought me any correspondence since I’ve been here.”
“And how long has that been?”
A small smile rose on her lips as she brought a finger up to push the book away. Tilting her head, she tapped a finger on her chin. “I believe it has been a little over 100 years now.”
I scowled and looked about the cell. “Is that a godsdamn joke?”
“Unfortunately, it is not. There’s been some developments since I last talked to?—”
“Leave me,” a deep voice yelled from a few cells down.
Looking behind me, I released a sharp breath, annoyance winding down my spine. I called the shadows, letting them hide me from view. Cassia stared in my direction before cutting her eyes to the entrance of the cell. A tall, pale male wrenched the door open, slamming it shut once he stood in front of Cassia. Hisdeep blue eyes were wild, and the tension along his shoulders made him seem disordered. There was something about him, something that felt disheveled—chaotic.
With a snarl, he marched to Cassia, grabbing her by the throat to push her against the chaise. My jaw ticked from his false entitlement to Cassia’s body, but I stayed hidden while she stared up at him, her eyes slightly widening in surprise.
“Explain,” the male snapped. “I know you know more than you are letting on. Tell me why her bargain is incomplete.” His eyes briefly grew distant before snarling in Cassia’s face. “Tell me why I’m hearing this fucking voice in my head.”
“A voice?” Cassia mused, her eyes brightening even as her body remained compliant. “What is the voice telling you, Ambrose? What do the whispers say?”
“Don’t. Play. Games,” Ambrose roared, spit flying out of his pitiful mouth. “Why is she able to resist the bargain?”
“I’m not able to answer that, Ambrose Farra. I may have lived a long life, but there are things that even I do not know.”
Ambrose leaned down close, baring his teeth. “You’re keeping information from me, Cassia. Tell me before I rid this realm of you for good.”
Cassia sighed as if the hand around her throat wasn’t turning her skin red. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to tell you. Bargains were created from the wild magic of the Seelie Court and will act with no rhyme or reason. There may be some tomes that could give you an explanation; however, those are deep inside the Seelie Court. You will need permission from their king to access that knowledge.”
Ambrose snarled, pushing away from Cassia to grip the iron bars. His chest rose and fell rapidly until he brushed his hand along his hair. Straightening, he restrained his anger. “If I find out you’re lying to me, I will kill you.” With that, he opened the cell and disappeared down the hall.
