Page 102 of Blood of the Fairest

We're all silent as Wulf leads me down a steep set of misshapen stone stairs under the shrine. They're easy to miss, under all the brambles.

As we descend, Eris's voice is wary. "Are you certain you want to go through with this unpleasantness, Verena?"

"If by unpleasantness, you mean freeing a faerie so I'm not stuck here watching my soul splinter even more or dying as the evil queen…then yep, I'm pretty certain."

"I'm talking about the spell that frees the faerie."

I was on autopilot yesterday writing everything he told me to, but it didn't seem like a long spell. I'm beyond grateful that Eris is somehow well-read in this world, even when it comes to magical shit. He said turning a spell inside out isn't complicated.

I don't get why he sounds unhappy about this one—but soon, we're standing in the same underground prison where I was tied to a chair several days ago.

In fact, that same chair is still here, toppled over near one of the puddles. I grimace at the sight of it.

Wulf sees, and to the big guy's credit, he looks like guilt is eating him alive.

He starts to say something, but goosebumps rise on my arms when Malivant's voice drags over my skin like cold velvet.

"So you've returned after all. How serendipitous. I had my doubts that mirror-bound vagabond would ever deliver my message, given how smitten he is by you."

Smitten?

I'm ready to snort and tell the faerie he's way off because Eris isn't into anyone like that.

But I catch a glimpse of the gorgeous prismatic-haired ghost's expression in the reflection of Wulf's axe. He's not disagreeing.

When his gaze moves to me with meaning, my heart skips two beats.

Holy shit. Eris has a thing for me.

I've been plenty aware of the way he's watched me, including when I was bathing—but I just thought he was appreciating the aesthetic of a naked woman, because hello? Who wouldn't?

I feel fucking dense now for not realizing, but this is something we should talk about later, after I free the magical jerk imprisoned nearby.

"You have ascertained the spell to free me?" Malivant checks.

"That—ahem."

I clear my embarrassingly weak voice, nervous as hell about being anywhere near this monster again. The kind of agony he can deal without even having to touch the person he's punishing…

Shivering, I try again. "That depends. Can you really help me?"

"I can and I shall, once this infernal curse is destroyed at last."

Okay, then this is it.

I'm officially going home.

But first…

I take another step into the decayed stone prison and lift my chin to ask, "Before I get started, do you know how Eris can get out of the mirror realm permanently?"

The Faerie of Wrath makes a sound of pure annoyance. "Astounding as this may be to you, I am not some all-knowing consultant for questions that mortals have no business asking."

That's absolutely faerie-speak for, Bitch, do I look like Google?

I hesitate for a millisecond before going for the ego angle.

"My bad. It's just that—well, as we've very painstakingly established, I'm new here, but I keep hearing people talk about faeries like they're all that and a bag of chips. I'll just go find someone else to ask once we're done here. There's probably some magic tree or imp or something out there that knows a lot more than you about mirror realm stuff, huh?"