Eyden didn’t show any indication that her weapon threatened him. He kept walking, only stopping once he was dangerously close to the armed fae. “We’re buyers. Here for a special kind of fortae ingredient. You have some live ones, don’t you? I’m willing to make an offer.”
The fae looked at each other. In agreement, the one with the knife spoke up again. “I’ve never seen you here before. What’s your name?”
“Eyden Kellen. I usually only stop by to buy blood bags, but my boss has recently decided to upgrade his business.”
“Who’s she?” the other fae asked, looking her up and down. Lora refused to cower from his stare.
“My business partner,” Eyden answered smoothly.
“Does she talk for herself?”
Lora briefly met his eyes. “I sure do. Can we get down to business now or what?”
“Mhm, I’d rather get down to something else.” The suggestive grin set the anger in her veins aflame. Yet Lora managed to drop her gaze, pressing her lips together to keep her remarks to herself.
“Do you have what we seek or not?” Eyden asked, his voice underlined with barely contained aggression.
The fae’s eyes left Lora. “Depends. Who’s your boss?”
Lora’s heart sped up. Would they already fail before they even found the prisoners? How did they ever think this would work?
“Rahmur Piers,” Eyden answered, not missing a beat.
The fae seemed pleased with the answer. “In that case, we currently have three products. How many do you want?”
Lora relaxed slightly. They were buying their cover. Eyden was more connected than she’d realised. Did he have the trader’s name written in one of his many notebooks? Was he planning on taking him down if the chance presented itself?
Eyden removed a bag of silver notes from his pocket. “All of them.” The fae drew closer as if to take the money, but Eyden pulled back swiftly. “First, let us see if the products are worth it.”
“Tell Kelvion we have buyers,” the fae with the knife said to the other one. The latter disappeared behind the red door.
Lora began to feel hopeful against her better judgement. Could it be this easy?
The sound of clashing chains made her focus on the door in front of them. The noise steadily increased and soon enough a young man limped outside. His hands were bound in front of him. The shadows under his eyes and bruises on his face told the story of a painful capture. His right eye was almost completely swollen shut. The man had noticed Lora first, but his good eye lingered on Eyden.
Behind him, a middle-aged man and a woman who couldn’t have been older than thirty followed, dragging their tired feet forward as the fae ordered them to keep walking. Their eyes were wide with fear, unaware of what awaited them next.
“As you can see, they’re all just alive enough. They won’t give you any trouble,” the fae said, twirling the knife in her hand.
Eyden observed the captives. “6,000 silver. That’s my offer.”
“They’re worth 8,000.”
Lora wanted to speak up, to tell them they agreed to the price, but Eyden cut her a warning glance. This was trade business. He was playing a part.
“They’re weak. They won’t last long. 7,000 silver,” Eyden countered.
The fae sighed. “Fine.”
Eyden pulled the silver notes out of the bag, counting it in front of them before handing it over. Once the money left his hand, he gestured to the three humans. “Follow me if you want to see another day.” He moved to take the alley they’d come from.
“Not so fast. I’m always keen on meeting Rahmur’s traders,” a strangely familiar voice said.
Lora met Eyden’s alarmed eyes. The fear in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes pleaded with her to get ready to run even as his own feet stayed rooted in place.
The full meaning of his fear was lost on her until she twisted around and was met with the cold gaze of a fae.
A fae she’d encountered before, in the diner on the way to Ilario’s house.
