I drew a deep breath. “I’m going to ask him for my family’s contracts.”
“And when he says no?”
“Wh-what makes you think he’ll say no?” I spluttered, and my voice rose in pitch. “He seemed willing to help me when I told him about them before...”
“He’s not nearly as self-sacrificing as he’s led you to believe.” Gwen crushed my hopes. “You need a better plan.”
I cleared my throat and nodded. “You’re right.” But off the top of my head, I only had one idea. “He told Soren that he needed to know why they were important. Obviously, Soren couldn’t tell him the truth, but I was thinking... As long as there isn’t a toddy wobble around, I could tell him a lie.”
“What lie?”
“I have no idea,” I whispered. Though it stretched me farther outside my comfort zone than meeting fae princes, seeing trolls, or even visiting the fae world altogether, I made myself ask, “Can you help me?”
Gwen’s stern face lit up in excitement. She twisted to face me. “I excel at strategy,” she said with zero humility. “Let’s form a plan.”
***
When someone loudlyannounced Caius’s name, I jumped up. He’d returned to court solo and didn’t seem in a hurry to return to his throne, speaking to someone near the entrance. I stood taller and strode in his direction, trying to project confidence like Gwen had instructed.
She’d come up with a much better plan than mine: I’d convince Caius that these were the humans who’d stolen from me. He’d practically given me the story himself the day we’d met.
Gwen gave me a firm nod of support when I glanced back. Bolstering myself, I approached the prince as he finished his conversation, intercepting him before he could climb back up the steps. “I need to speak with you.”
He arched a black brow, not smiling. Maybe because I’d rejected him the last time we spoke. “You have my attention.”
“Remember those humans I was looking for?” I poured the words out in a rush, careful to use the word “humans” instead of “people” like Gwen had reminded me. Spots of my story came out a bit awkward, but Caius didn’t say a word until I finished. “That’s why I need them. As soon as possible, which I’m sure you can understand.”
“What will you give me for them?”
Yes!Internally, I cheered.
Keeping my expression calm, I said, “Obviously, I’ll send three humans of my own to replace them. And I was thinking a fourth human for the rush, of course.”
It’d been Gwen’s idea to pretend I had humans of my own to trade. It was genius. He wouldn’t know I’d lied until we were long gone.
“Fascinating,” Caius murmured, staring over my shoulder, then turning an unblinking gaze back on me.
Strange reaction, but okay. I tried to roll with it. “I could double the number if you’d prefer.”
His eyes narrowed. “Do that again.”
“Um... Do what?”
Advancing on me, he invaded my space until his hot breath brushed my cheeks as he said, “Lie to me again.”
