He hesitated, eyes darkening. “A key.”
“Why the fuck did they think you had it?” I asked, my voice sharp with frustration.
“I don’t know. But they talked for a while. I couldn’t hear everything they were saying.” He chewed his lip, shoulders stiff, like the memory itself made him ache.
I took another bite of food, staring at him. He looked like he was ill just thinking about it. My stomach twisted with worry.
“What did the woman look like?”
“Her back was to me. I only saw that she had black hair.”
I nodded, trying to make sense of it, but maybe there wasn’t anything to make sense of yet. The truth would always come out at some point, and I had a sinking feeling that Farris lovedEzra. I had seen his future with her before, married, with seven children. But that vision felt hollow now. I couldn’t see that future anymore. I couldn’t see Ezra, Farris, Elowyn, Loma, or Philip’s future. The uncertainty gnawed at me.
“Alright, let’s get down to business. We need to figure out more about Elowyn and where she is at with meeting her mate. Where is she living? Is she aware of the bond? So to do that, you need to seduce your mate.”
“For fuck’s sake, Ezra. That is your godsdamn plan?” I scoffed, incredulous, my hands balling into fists as anger and disbelief collided inside me.
“Well, you don’t have to sleep with her. But you need her to think you are falling for her charms. She will eventually lead you to Philip, and he will lead you to Elowyn.”
I hated that his plan made sense. My chest tightened, part of me rebelling, part of me calculating.
“And I decided that I’m going to kidnap Farris,” he said quietly as he sat down and took a bite of food, throwing it out there like it was just an offhand comment.
My gaze snapped up to him, heart lurching.
“What?”
“I’m going to kidnap Farris and demand answers. Do you have a better idea than that?” He leaned back, jaw set, eyes burning with a mix of desperation and stubborn resolve.
I shook my head, still reeling, unable to find a single flaw in his reckless logic.
“She has to know something. Like Thomas said, she did this for a reason, and I’m her fucking mate. I need to know. Plus, she probably knows more about all of this, so she will be a good source of information.” His voice cracked on the edges, the pain beneath the anger bleeding through.
“Okay, I agree.” I sighed heavily, the weight of the plan settling onto my shoulders like a stone. “We probably should informour family of the plan so they don’t interfere. Let’s start with kidnapping Farris; maybe she has information that is useful. Besides, I don’t want to be anywhere near Loma.”
Ezra nodded with agreement, tension written across every line of his body.
Everyone stared at me and Ezra like we’d set the place on fire and asked them to admire the flames. Della let go of Haden’s hand and stood. Thea and Cassius watched me oddly before Cassius stood up.
“You can’t kill Loma,” he said, alarmed. “Wouldn’t that curse you like it did Thea and me?”
“Exactly. That’s why none of you can touch her. She’s my mate, and the bond makes it too dangerous. We’re still trying to figure out our options.”
Ezra looked at the ground, and I knew what he was thinking. How would this hurt Farris? I frowned as I looked at him.
“Philip’s a fucking tyrant. Loma’s no better. And there’s no chance in hell she’ll talk to me like I’m anything other than her enemy. But they’re in it deep with whatever’s happening in Gilyx; they’re a part of it. They’re hunting the fate relics. If they get all three…”I paused.
I looked around the room.
“We’re all dead. We have to kill them and their parents.”
“But what about Farris?” Della asked.
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “Ezra and I came here hoping we could figure out a plan.”
“We need Farris and Elowyn to come to us.” Ezra finally looked up. “But if he is feeding off her magic, will it hurt her to be away from him?”
Haden stood up. “Maybe you can give her your magic? What if you finish the mating process?”
