Chapter 19 #2
Thanks to the size of trolls, the large tunnel naturally had extra space for meetings to take place along the sides. Soren wasn’t around the first bend in the tunnel, though, or the second, and as Caius slowed down, I panicked over the thought of him turning back only to find me.
Thankfully, on the third turn, Soren appeared.
I ducked back around the corner before they spotted me.
“Is it true?” Caius asked Soren without preamble, loud enough for me to overhear. “About the humans?”
Listening intently, I thought for sure Soren would be caught in that trap. But he was a master manipulator. Instead of asking Caius to clarify, he said, “Do you think I would discuss it with you?”
“What would stop the Shadow Court from taking action tonight?” Caius pressed, misunderstanding, as Soren had intended.
“If I spoke for the Shadow Court,” Soren replied. “I’d require half the humans you’ve acquired. Balance is the only way to stabilize the magic of the treaty.”
“Half,” Caius scoffed. “That’s unreasonable to accomplish in a single night.”
“Not impossible though,” Soren murmured, so low I almost couldn’t make out his voice. “You and I both know that the majority of the contracts in this court are signed over to you already.”
I peeked out. Soren’s face was impassive as he shrugged, and a slow, wicked smile stretched across his face. “It’s not equal as it is. Which is terribly unfortunate, since a broken treaty leads to—”
“I know what it leads to,” Caius snapped, clenching his fists. “Fine. I’ll have two hundred contracts in your hands before the end of solstice.”
“By midnight,” Soren countered.
Caius’s back was so tense I could see the muscles outlined beneath his shirt. “By sunrise,” he gritted out, and this time, Soren gave a satisfied nod.
He’d asked for half of the humans, and Caius had said two hundred contracts.
Does that mean the Hollow Court has stolen four hundred people?
Before, Caius had made it sound like a few dozen. I’d wanted to believe he didn’t know about all the other corrupt contracts, but clearly, he did. How had he misled me so completely?
“As I am representing the Shadow Court, make sure you sign them over to me personally.” Soren’s stern gaze didn’t leave Caius. “The contracts on their own are worthless to the Shadow Court as they are.”
I pressed a fist against my mouth to stifle my gasp.
To the Shadow Court?
No.
Soren had sworn he was rescuing people.
This didn’t make sense. I’d asked him point-blank if he kidnapped them from their homes and—
My thoughts snagged on that wording.
From their homes.
He’d said no, but what if that was only because he took them from other places, such as this?
I tried to remember Julian’s exact words.
. . Something about “stealing the humans away from the fae who took them.” Had they ever actually said the exact words “we’re returning them home? ” I couldn’t remember.
“It’ll be up to you to get them to the Shadow Court on your own.” Caius’s back was to me, but he sounded like he was smirking.
A muscle feathered in Soren’s cheek as he stared at Caius for a long moment. But instead of arguing, he nodded. “As long as I don’t have to track them down. Send them to my home, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
I’d have understood if he hadn’t denied Caius—manipulating him by not saying anything made sense—but Soren had gone beyond that and claimed these people for the Shadow Court, multiple times.
I sagged back against the wall.
I’d just helped him transfer human slaves from one court to another.
I didn’t want to believe it, but . . . the proof was right in front of me.
Soren had fooled me as much as Caius, if not more.
“I’ll expect the contracts to be delivered to my burrow with whoever is present,” Soren was saying, “since I have plans tonight.”
“It’s your role to be present at the south entrance.” Caius had started to turn, and I glimpsed a smile from him that was mostly bared teeth. “Remember?”
“I was given permission to acquire help,” Soren replied in a bored tone, picking at his fingernail. “If that’s all?”
Caius grunted, “That’s all.” He spun on his heel to leave.
I gasped and jumped back, ducking between some deep roots in the wall nearby, pressing into the skinny hole and holding my breath.
The prince passed by without noticing me, turning the corner moments later.
Getting out of my hiding place turned out to be much harder than getting in. Thankfully, my long sleeves had protected my arms, but I’d ripped the shoulder of the white shirt, and my red skirt was tangled up in the roots.
As I finally stumbled out, I tripped over a root and tumbled toward the ground.
Soren caught me right before I got a face full of dirt.
Wrapped in his arms, I tried to catch my breath, but the warmth around my ribs seemed to speed it up unnaturally.
This was starting to be a bit of a habit.
He steadied me with one hand on my shoulder, the other around my waist, and maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed like he lingered.
I drew in a deep breath, wanting to lean into him, into the way his arms made me feel safe, but the things I’d just overheard made me pull back.
I needed to ask him about it, point-blank.
If he couldn’t deny it, I’d know for sure.
But my eyes watered at the thought of him admitting it was true.
Just pull the Band-Aid off and ask.
“Well done,” Soren said before I could find the words, though he didn’t sound pleased.
“Even if you didn’t wait with the others like you were supposed to.
” He started walking back toward court without looking at me.
“Now, I’ve quite a bit of work headed my way, so let’s get this Winter Solstice Ball over with, shall we? ”