He was undoubtedly fae. It wasn’t just his unusual eye colour that gave him away, it was his whole presence. He gave off a foreign, almost inhuman, vibe.
“I asked you a question,” the fae said, his voice stern and impatient. His eyes never left hers as he waited for an answer. His intense gaze was boring into her. Lora found it quite unsettling. Part of her wanted to turn around and flee. If she went now, she was sure she could still catch Marcel, leave the market, and forget this incident ever happened. Then she remembered Marcel’s words.
“Are you Eyden?” Her voice shook slightly and she hated how insecure she sounded.
The fae looked taken aback, confusion colouring his features. “Yes. Who the hell are you?” He looked her up and down. “You’re human?”
“Yes,” she replied quickly. “Marcel sent me. He told you I was coming, didn’t he?”
Eyden turned his head, finally breaking that unwavering stare, as he let out a short laugh. The movement let a black curl fall into his face, stopping right above his eye.
“He told me to wait here for a special delivery. And just howspecialare you?” Eyden asked as he turned that curious gaze on her once again.
Lora regained her composure, forcing her voice to come out even and decisive. “Marcel said you could help me. I came to get a cure. Might not beyourtop priority, but humans are dying right now from a nasty virus.”
“So I’ve heard. But I don’t have anything at the market here, I already told Marcel that.”
His dismissive words invoked Lora’s always-lingering anger. Of course, to a fae, this was nothing, least of all a pressing matter. Her first conversation with a fae was exactly as she’d always expected.
“Then I’m going somewhere else. Point me in the right direction, will you?” she asked sternly.
There was that laugh again, this time undeniably mocking her. “You want to go outside? Into Chrysa? Dressed like that, every fae will know you’re human. You have no idea how to blend in. They’ll try to kill you, or worse.”
Her skin crawled as images flashed before her eyes. This was the history she had studied. A long history of mistreatment of humans—and mistreatment was putting it lightly. Yet Lora refused to dwell on theor worseEyden had mentioned.
“Then help me,” she replied. It took immense willpower to get out the words. Asking a fae for help, what had her life become? But this was the plan. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe she could do this by herself. Marcel believed Eyden could help. She had to be careful in handling this, but she needed Eyden’s knowledge of the fae land. She might have studied everything she could get her hands on about Liraen, but Lora knew she was lacking insider information. To succeed, she unfortunately needed a guide to this foreign world.
“And why would I do such a thing? What’s in it for me? Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth,” Eyden said.
She reached into the front pocket of her black skinny jeans and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “Marcel thought you might say that.”
Eyden took the letter without hesitation, taking in whatever Marcel had written to convince him to help. His nose crinkled as he seemed to wrestle with a decision.
Finally, he exhaled loudly and said, “I may be convinced to help with your…mission.” Those piercing eyes locked on hers. “But I have conditions.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything else from a fae.”
His dark eyebrows drew together as if he was irritated by her statement. It was simply the truth. Everyone knew the fae loved their agreements, binding others to keep their word.
“I didn’t know that all humans areoh so selfless,” he said. When Lora didn’t reply, he added, “How did you cross?”
“I can’t tell you that. I can trade you, though.” Lora moved to take off her backpack. She could pay him, she was willing to bargain with him. “I have some jewellery. It’s worth something.”
“I have no need for that. Knowing how to cross on the other hand…”
“I already told you, I can’t tell you that. Can’t you just accept payment?” Lora swung her backpack over her shoulder again as she stared at him in annoyance. Her patience was wearing thin.
“If I remember correctly, you’re the one who wants something. I’d take my offer if I were you. It’s a scary world for humans out there.”
Lora considered what was at stake. Telling him her secret could endanger her own life, yes, but he wouldn’t be able to cross to Earth himself. Still, she’d rather not tell him. She was about to play a dangerous game, pretending she had a different kind of secret, a more valuable one, to share.
Lora couldn’t allow him to suspect the deception she was planning, so she asked, “And what will you do if I tell you?”
Eyden shrugged. “This and that.”
“Vague, much?”
“And you’re so forthcoming? Then tell me, special one, why can’t you tell me your little secret? You didn’t sign a blood contract, did you?”
