“The one you invited Prince Teryn to join but not me.”
Lex’s gaze shifted furtively from Teryn to Helios. “I…don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“At eight this evening, you sent a servant with a message for Prince Teryn. At a quarter to midnight, you left your room and entered the garden. At ten until midnight, Prince Teryn entered the garden. And here you are.”
Lex’s eyes bulged. “How do you know all that?”
“The servant you paid a single goldsovato deliver your message only required twosovasto tell me exactly where the message had been sent. The chambermaid who brought your dinner this evening, Lexington, only required fivesovasto watch your room for the remainder of the evening. Meanwhile, one of the hall servants watched Prince Teryn’s room for the cost of six.”
Teryn scoffed. “Are we supposed to be impressed?”
“Everyone has a price. Every piece of information can be bought if you know the right currency.”
“Do you like speaking in riddles,” Teryn said, “or is that just an aspect of your glowing personality?”
Helios’ jaw tightened as he slid his gaze to Teryn. “I don’t know why the two of you chose to form an alliance, but your terms have now changed. The three of us will be working together.”
Lex huffed a laugh. “Why would we agree to work with you?”
“I’ve already demonstrated my knack for gathering information,” Helios said. “It just so happens I already know much about the prey we seek.”
“How do you know we don’t too?” Lex said, puffing his chest in a way that was not at all convincing.
“You don’t.”
“How do youknow—”
“Answer me this,” Helios cut in. “How many hunting parties are currently seeking unicorns?”
Teryn and Lex said nothing.
Helios’ lips curled into a smug grin. “Who are they hired by? Where are the unicorns most commonly spotted? When did the first sighting occur? How thick is their hide? What’s the best weapon to use against them?”
Teryn’s fingers curled at his sides when he really wanted to send a fist to the other man’s face. It took all his restraint to appear unflustered. “What’s the best way to shut you up?”
Helios glared at Teryn. “Have you any clue how to most effectively skin a unicorn?”
“No, because I’m not a complete psychopath,” Teryn said dryly.
He turned to Lex. “How does one dehorn a unicorn?”
“You pay someone to do it,” Lex said with a nod.
Helios shook his head. “The two of you are clueless. You’ll never find the unicorns without my help.”
“If we’re so clueless, why bother making an alliance with us?” Teryn asked.
“Unicorn hunting is not a solo endeavor. Even with three of us, it would be hard.”
“All right,” Teryn said, entertaining his line of reasoning. “What are you proposing then? We team up, help each other seek the prizes? Each champion must find three unicorns. One for its pelt, one for its horn, and one as a pet. That’s a total of—” He was about to say six, since Lex had already forfeited his place as champion…but what if that was a piece of information Helios didn’t have? Even if he’d been spying on them a while, could he have heard their hushed conversation over the rushing fountain?
Teryn watched Helios closely as he continued. “That’s nine unicorns total if we agree to help each other complete the Heart’s Hunt. How do we know you won’t take advantage of our aid to steal the first three unicorns all for yourself and abandon us? And if not, what do we do once we’re done helping each other? Make a mad dash back and see who gets here first?”
Helios showed no sign that he knew Teryn was withholding anything. “We aren’t going to find nine unicorns. We’re going to find two.”
Teryn’s stomach dropped, but he tried not to let his surprise show. It still didn’t mean Helios knew. “Why only two?”
“We’ll take the horn and the pelt from the same unicorn. Mareleau will never know the difference. It’s impossible to tell. We’ll bring back the second unicorn as her pet.”
