My mind turned to the contents of my pack… and one item in particular that no one, not even my friends, knew about. What if Theron had seen it? What if he’d told Calista?
What if he found out about my condition? Did that mean Calista knew, too? Did she know I would die soon?
“Wipe that panicked look off your face,” Theron grumbled. “I am perfectly lucid right now. She can only control me when she summons me.”
“So, why hasn’t she summoned you?” I asked, suddenly suspicious.
“She won’t waste precious blood droplets unless she absolutely has to. It’s the same reason she doesn’t use my blood toforceme to fulfill my assignments.”
I scoffed at that. “No, you’re just a killer by choice.”
His lethal gaze shot to me, ire burning in his expression. “I didn’t choose this, princess.” And there was something so haunting about his voice that I had no reply to that. “At any rate, I’m still required to strike fae bargains with every assignment. It’s how she keeps me in check. But she wouldn’t dare use my blood to spy on me night and day. Of course, with every passing hour, she’ll be wondering where I am, so there’s no telling what she’ll do.”
I turned to glance at Mauro, who had been watching the exchange silently, his dark eyes alert. “We should keep moving,” he said slowly. “Especially if the false queen is bound to call on you if you’re delayed.”
He was right, but I found I couldn’t move. I felt like there was more to say to Theron, but I wasn’t sure what. An apology?Condolences for his situation? How long had he been in Calista’s employ? How long had he been forced to work for her with no way out?
“I don’t want your pity,” Theron snapped without looking at me.
My irritation returned. “It’s not pity. Besides, I don’t give a damn whatyouwant, hunter.”
“Obviously,” he muttered.
His grumbling only incensed me further. “Gods, you are such a child.”
He snorted. “I’ma child? You’re like a toddler, with no reason or concept of danger. I’ve met goats with more sense than you.”
In spite of the situation, I laughed. He whirled to look at me in incredulity. His expression was so bewildered that I only laughed harder. Something sparked in his eyes, an emotion I hadn’t seen before, and it melted some of the tension between us.
“You’re insane,” he said slowly.
“I’m just picturing a goat… tricking you with… a fae bargain,” I said between laughs, tears streaming from my eyes.
His brows knitted together, but that new emotion brightened his eyes. Something very close to amusement. “It would be far more preferable to our current arrangement.”
“I doubt that. A goat can’t possibly be as nice to look at as I am.”
Theron rolled his eyes. “Far less of a torment, though.”
“Ah, but tormenting you is such fun,” I said brightly.
He groaned, but that same amusement lit up his face, making him almost unrecognizable. He looked so much…younger. Less burdened. His eyes seemed lighter instead oftheir usual coal-black. His brow was smooth and untroubled. “I’ve never encountered a target as thoroughly irritating as you, princess.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It’s not.”
“Have you two been like this the whole time?” asked a voice.
I glanced up to find Frisk standing in our path. Kendra was perched beside him, her gleaming blue eyes the only thing distinguishing her from the snow.
“Partially,” Mauro grumbled in response.
“We have bad news,” Kendra said, her wings twitching. “There’s another blizzard approaching. A big one.”
My heart sank. “Shit.” I should have known from the way the wind intensified. The clouds were now a murky gray, darkening with each passing minute. I had been so distracted by my bickering with Theron that I hadn’t noticed.
“How soon?” Theron’s voice was sharp.
