Chapter 8 #2
“Fae magic is in our blood,” he replied, as if that explained everything.
He tilted the pen so that the blood flowed into it and to the other end, the side with the writing nib.
Picking up the sheet of paper with the terms he’d written down earlier, he signed his name in delicate red lines and curls.
After blowing on it gently, he slid the page toward me. “Careful not to smudge it.”
Against my better judgment, I accepted the page.
Taking my time, I mentally checked each item I’d asked for to make sure he hadn’t left anything out.
He didn’t rush me.
Not that I’d have let him.
When I finally nodded and looked up, he held out the pen with the ink made of blood. “Prick your finger. It will pull a bit of your blood inside. Then sign your name beside mine to seal the deal.”
My eyes widened.
It suddenly made sense why the pen that Dad, Rissa, and Olive had used kept cutting them. Those fae had snuck their blood into the signatures without their permission.
I took the tool cautiously.
His fingers brushed mine, making me shiver. It was because he was fae, not because he was attractive. I refused to admire anything about the fae when his kind were the ones heartlessly keeping my family from me.
Twisting the pen, I hissed when it pricked my finger, like he’d said it would.
My hand hovered over the paper.
This could be my ruin.
Or it could be the way I saved my family.
I had no way to know for sure until the decision was already made.
Resting my hand carefully on the dry parts of the paper, I signed my full name beneath his.
Brynn Donovan.
When Soren shifted to take the pen, I flinched, expecting some kind of fae magic to sweep over me—or, at the very least, a tingling or similar sensation to signal a magical exchange. When nothing did, I flushed and let him take it and the paper as well.
I thought of Dad and the way he’d acted out until they’d touched the contract. Maybe the magic didn’t take effect unless provoked.
“What would happen if someone ripped the paper?” I asked, unable to help my curiosity.
“Nothing,” Soren replied, setting it inside the cabinet to finish drying. “It takes quite a bit more than that to end a contract.”
Vague. I thought of my family and tried again. “What would happen if you burned it?”
“Nothing,” he repeated, shutting the cabinet door with a click.
I snapped my mouth shut, stopping myself before asking what happened if the blood smeared or a dozen other questions that came to mind. He didn’t seem to be in a secret-telling mood.
“We made a deal.” I kept the scowl on my face to hide my fears. “Tell me now. Everything.”
He nodded. “Come, let’s sit where it’s more comfortable.”
We returned to the library through the kitchen and a short tunnel. I ran my fingers along the stone walls, wondering if there was stone beneath the carpet as well. After striding to his desk to collect his logbook, Soren sank onto one of the soft-looking sofas, gesturing for me to do the same.
I stopped at the edge of the rug, crossed my arms, and remained standing.
Without comment, he sighed. “Shortly before your arrival, I met three humans who I assume were your father and two sisters.” He paused, and when I didn’t argue, he continued. “They entered the Hollow Court less than an hour before you did.”
That matched up with what I knew so far. “And?”
“I was not made aware of the terms of their deal, but . . .” His eyes softened a bit as he set the logbook on the coffee table in front of him. “Based on who brought them, I’d wager quite a bit that they’d agreed to forever.”
The pit in my stomach grew so large I thought I might throw up. When he’d first said it, I’d convinced myself he was trying to push me toward making the deal. Forever.
“Why would they take someone for life?” I demanded. “That’s insane!”
He shrugged. “They didn’t say. But it did seem as if they’d intended to obtain your entire family. Unfortunately, this is quite common when humans are taken. It prevents anyone from looking into a disappearance too closely.” Opening the logbook, he began to flip through the pages.
I stepped onto the rug involuntarily.
His attention was on finding the right page, so he didn’t notice the way my fingers twitched with the urge to snatch the book out of his hands.
“Ah, here it is,” he murmured. “Reason for entry: Mortal father and daughters in service to undisclosed parties.” Trailing a finger across the page, he slowly lifted his gaze to mine. “They didn’t reveal the final destination, but I have my suspicions about who they’re in service to.”
Fury raced through me, chased quickly by despair.
I dropped onto the opposite end of the sofa, defeated.
He’d known it was a dead end, but he’d acted like he knew more.
I should’ve expected it. Still, another phrase had caught my attention.
“Father and . . . daughters?” My voice came out barely above a whisper.
Clearing my throat, I firmed my voice. “But they didn’t take me. ”
Soren closed the book with a snap, wrapping a cord around it before lifting his eyes back to mine. With a tilt of his head, he shrugged. “Sometimes even the fae make poorly worded deals. ‘Daughters’ is not very specific, is it?”
I bit my lip.
His eyes studied my face as if he could see the revelation crossing my mind.
“It would seem they neglected to ask the exact number of daughters.” Setting the notebook down once more, he angled his body toward me, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Let me give you some advice. If they don’t know there are three daughters total and have accepted two, perhaps you should avoid mentioning any relations to the family going forward. ”
His implications sank in.
It could be a dangerous connection.
At first, I felt grateful.
But he knows.
I tried to slow my shallow breathing as I studied him. He could use the information against me at any time.
He calmly met my gaze.
While I’d always struggled to mask my wild emotions, his eyes remained calm and unblinking. I couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking.
I sank back into the couch cushions.
So, he held a secret over me. Once again, it was too late to do anything about it. I’d have to trust that he wouldn’t use it against me until he’d accomplished his own goals. That meant I should be somewhat safe—as much as one could be here, anyway—until our deal ended.
Then I’d have to watch my back.
I returned the conversation back to my family. “You didn’t tell me where they went.”
He shrugged. “We simply mark down those who enter. Unfortunately, if they don’t say where they’re headed, we can’t force the information.”
“You promised to tell me where they went!” I saw red. Clenching my fists so I wouldn’t grab him by that stupid fancy vest, I gritted out, “You’re breaking our deal.”
“No,” he countered, though his dealmaking smirk wasn’t present. “I made it clear from the beginning I didn’t know where they’d been taken.”
My eyes fluttered closed. That was true.
“What I promised,” he continued in a slightly softer tone, “was to tell you everything I knew about your family since they arrived.”
“Which is practically nothing!” I snapped, wanting to throw something. Straightening my spine, I glared down my nose at him. “You guaranteed it’d be ‘worthwhile’ or you’d forfeit my time.”
“It’s not quite nothing.” He spread his hands wide. “We are merely the notetakers in this burrow, subject to write down only the information given to us. However, while I can’t say for sure who they made the deal with, if it’s who I suspect, they’ll be presented before the courts.”
“Then we have to go there.” I jumped up from the couch. “You have to take me there!”
He stood more slowly, looming over me. “They would’ve been presented immediately upon arrival. They’ll be long gone by now.”
I deflated like a balloon and fell back onto the couch a second time. My eyes glazed over. I was too late. I should’ve dared to go farther down those dark tunnels and risked running into the boggart and whatever else was down here. I should’ve—
“I have some guesses regarding where they may’ve ended up,” Soren said, interrupting my dark thoughts. “Contacts who could do some digging to verify my suspicions and the exact terms of their deal.”
I bolted upright. “Yes. Please. I’ll do anything.”
Sucking in a breath, I regretted saying the words, but my stomach sank even further when he strolled toward the kitchen, calling back cheerfully, “You’ve already agreed to that.”
I followed. “You have to tell me!”
“All in good time, Ms. Toad.” His calm tone grated on me. “First, it’s time you hold up your end of the deal.”