Liam and I shared a look and the guy grinned. “And I’m guessing that’s why you’re here.”
Liam nodded. “And what did you tell them?”
He laughed and it was a cold, biting sound. “That I knew nothing of the matter. Fuck Faerie. They left us out to dry.”
My heart jumped into my throat and Liam tensed. “But you do know how, don’t you? Help an old friend out.” Liam slid the two vials across the desk.
The Fae’s gaze flicked to me and sharpened. “And why should I help her? She’s one of them.”
I frowned, realizing the divide between us living in Faerie and those living on Earth was far greater than I imagined.
“Because I’m not like the elders. I didn’t live through the dark times, and only recently was I made aware of this war. I grew up my entire life shielded from all of this, which makes me different.”
I realized now that my mother had given me a gift.
His brows raised. “Different how?”
I shrugged. “I don’t have a bias to either side.” I met Liam’s gaze and his cheeks reddened. “I’m learning as I go, and trust me when I say that I want to seek a solution that benefits both of us.”
We needed all the crystals in Faerie, but they needed them too, and I needed to figure out what that meant.
The Fae seemed to mull that over. “If you take all of the crystals from Earth, I die, he dies—every magical creature here will perish.”
This was not as cut and dry as the elders had made it seem.
“Then I won’t,” I breathed. “Not until I’m sure I can create a place where we can all live in harmony.”
His laugh was dry and full of disdain, forehead wrinkling as he glared at me. “Oh, little spring Faerie who smells of roses, how naive you are! We cannot all live in that small little village of what’s left of Faerie. We’d kill each other.”
I slammed my fist on his desk, pain slicing from my knuckles up to my arm. “Then I’ll make it bigger! I’ll restore Faerie and you can have your own side and everyone can come home.”
My outburst shocked him. He reeled back an inch and his mouth opened. “There is no one alive with the power to restore Faerie. Even with all twelve crystals, it would take the queen herself to do such a thing.”
I had to play my cards right here. I couldn’t let him know the queen, AKA my aunt, was alive.
I crossed my arms and pinned him with my best alpha look. “I know of a way.”
“Really?” He sneered and I glanced at Liam to see him watching me closely.
I put up my left hand. “I swear on my mother’s soul, I know how to restore Faerie.”
If the queen could restore Faerie and I could restore the queen, then Ididknow.
He grabbed a glass shard from his desk and looked at me through it. His dark eye looked distorted through the lens.
“She speaks the truth. I will help you both,” was all he said before setting down the glass.
Whew.
Liam looked relieved. “My father has had the crystals changed. They’re not like they were, and I’m not sure it will revitalize those of us who do not align with his energy.”
Jasper nodded. “I’m aware of the modifications your father is making to the crystals. Although quite genius in keeping Faerie from acquiring them, it is stupid to taint something so pure. He will find that they do not regenerate him and his children as the pure Crystals do. They’re, quite frankly … evil.”
Evil.I shivered.
“How can we fix them? Can you?” I said.
He nodded. “No, I cannot, but the healing pool in Faerie can. I still remember them as a child. One dip in those pure waters should do the trick.”
