My rising hopes dropped again, crushed from how hard they’d fallen twice now. “Are you saying there’s almost no chance I can free my family?”
This is the bargain I made? I’m going to help him in exchange for learning that it’s hopeless?
He frowned. It almost seemed like his hand twitched toward mine, though the motion was so slight that I might’ve imagined it. “The odds aren’t perfect, but we’ve found a way.”
The roller coaster of hope raced back up at breakneck speed. “What?”
“We obtain their contracts. And the blood of the ones who signed them.”
GWEN’S VOICE CAME frombehind us. “That was my idea.” She returned from the kitchen, carrying a stack of plates. Setting them down, she scooped a large helping of eggs and bacon onto one, making my stomach growl embarrassingly loud. “Since no fae is going to willingly give us their blood, we had to find a way to take it.”
When Peregrin followed with a tray of something that looked like chocolate cookies, I wanted them even more than the breakfast, but I didn’t move from my chair. I didn’t know what the etiquette was here.
With all five of them here, it should’ve made me uncomfortable. I was an outsider, like always. But the atmosphere was relaxed. It was more cozy than anything.
Peregrin set the plate down on a table. “Chocolate mint,” he whispered to me. “It counts as a breakfast food because of the mint.”
When my stomach gurgled again in response, Gwen raised a brow.
I pressed a hand over it, mentally shushing myself, but Peregrin picked up a cookie and handed it to me on a small plate. I swallowed back unexpected tears and took it without a word. I accepted a mug of dark liquid that smelled like coffee as well. It warmed my hand.
Soren stood up, and I didn’t miss that he quietly slipped away as the others settled in.
“Sugar?” Peregrin asked, distracting me.
“Lots.” I managed a smile. How was it that I’d never felt this welcome anywhere back home? I shouldnotenjoy it. Maybe this was some fae spell they’d put on me. Maybe I should fight back. But I really, really didn’t want to.
As I brought the delicious fluffy chocolate to my lips, I paused. Those fictional stories I’d spent all last week reading infiltrated my pleasant thoughts. I took a second look at the dessert. “This isn’t actually bugs or leaves or something, is it?” I asked without thinking.
Peregrin sputtered from where he’d sat down. His hooves fell off the footrest, clopping loudly on the floor as he sat up straight. “Absolutely not.Mycookies? I can’t believe—” He whirled to face the others. “Do they taste that bad?”
“It’s delicious,” Lore assured him.
Julian snatched another cookie. “For your sake, I’ll shoulder the burden and check again.”
Gwen leaned forward and caught Peregrin’s hand. He’d grabbed a cookie and was holding it up to his nose to sniff it. She gently made him set it down. “Your baking isn’t the issue,” she said with a meaningful head tilt in my direction.
