“Yes, difficult. Not impossible. I have an idea.”
When he didn’t immediately offer it, I sighed, recognizing the trap. I didn’t have the energy to glare at him. In a flat tone, I said, “I suppose you want to make another deal.” Of course he’d take advantage of my vulnerable state. I should expect nothing less.
“Not tonight,” he said, surprising me.When I raised my brows, he shifted uncomfortably. “I’d like to think on the terms. And we can’t move forward until tomorrow, so there’s no need to rush.”
Ah, okay. That’s more like it.“But there is a way?”
“I believe so.”
I tried to take comfort in that.
Tomorrow. I might find them tomorrow.
At least now I knew generally where they were. And though I’d never admit it to Soren, I would absolutely bargain away the rest of my life if it meant I could save them.
I just had to wait one night.
Morning felt like years from now.
I hoped they were at least safe and warm.
Softly padding feet sounded, and Gwen appeared in front of me, holding out a glass of water. I accepted and drank the whole thing. She took it back without a word, leaving me and Soren alone again. I felt refreshed until guilt swamped me at the thought of my family.
“Do you think they’re getting food and water?” I asked Soren in a choked whisper.
He tried to say something, but it almost seemed like he couldn’t. Swallowing, he settled for a nod. “A good master would be sure to take care of his workers.”
Something about the indirectness made me think he couldn’t say yes, and tears blurred my vision. But he also hadn’t said no, so maybe there was a chance.
My heart squeezed in a painful mix of hope and distress, because if Dad, Rissa, and Olive were already struggling, what about Mom? She’d been here so much longer.
I opened my mouth to risk telling him, but instead, I said, “My mom really likes spaghetti.”
What?
Clearing my throat, I shook my head a bit and tried a second time to say, “My mom was taken too. Can we add her to the contract tomorrow?” But this time, I recognized the word vomit, even if I was too late to stop it. “I mean, she likes water too, but obviously, spaghetti tastes better.”
I flushed.
Covering my face, I wanted to disappear into the fluffy couch cushions. I sounded ridiculous. He must’ve thought I was an idiot.
“That’s not really a typical fae meal,” Soren finally said slowly. “But if you’re hungry, I could ask Peregrin if he knows how to make it...”
When I peeked through my fingers, his gaze was visibly concerned. “No,” I said on a sigh. “I’m good.”
How I’d forgotten about the magic for even a second, I didn’t know. But somehow, it hit harder this time. Part of me had held off asking Soren until now because he’d been my last hope. Now I’d officially run out of ways to find Mom.
I was too exhausted to sift through the words I could and couldn’t say or drop hints that he may or may not catch. I needed sleep.
“Do you have—” I stopped myself, searching for a more forceful way to say it, to stand up for myself, since no one else would. “If you want me to stay the night, I need a place to sleep.” There. That was something Rissa would say, and she usually got what she wanted.
“All my rooms are full,” Soren began, and my heart sank. “But I had Lore make upthe daybed for you.”
Relief turned my bones into jelly. Honestly, I probably could’ve fallen asleep on the floor at this point.
“It’s on the second floor.” He pointed toward the high ceiling—no, to the balcony along one side of the library. It had a solid wood railing, and more bookshelves lined the wall behind it. Searching for the stairs, I instead found a ladder tucked away in an alcove by the front door.
I shivered. “Do you lock up at night?”
