Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
PHOENIX
Vera drags the guy by his lapels to the nearest room. She shuts the door and turns the key inside the lock.
“Ladies, are we here to talk business or pleasure, so that we’re on the same page—”
He doesn’t get to finish the sentence because I slam him into the nearest wall, draw the blade strapped to my thigh, and press it against his moon-pale neck.
“Keep talking and you’ll start losing body parts,” I warn him.
Once again, even with the damn dagger at his throat he doesn’t show an ounce of fear. Suddenly, I’m overwhelmed with déjà vu. It’s like…we’ve been here before.
“I’m more of a soft lover type…However, I’m open to experimentation with knives and other things if that’s your thing,” he says, lightly brushing the blade of my dagger with his fingertip.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Wait a damn minute—You. I remember you. Sparkle Boy. I thought I recognized the insufferable yapping. You tried to rob me my first day here in Jaakii.”
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to recognize me, Grumpy Blade. I hoped you’d remember a face like this.
” I scoff and press my dagger closer to his throat.
He swallows. “To my defense, I wasn’t trying to rob you.
My…work associates did. If you forgot, I actually tried to convince them to leave you alone. ”
“I remember very little effort from your part.”
“Enough!” Vera snaps. “Who are you and who hired you? Someone hired you to assassinate Phoenix so she doesn’t win the trials? Was it Caligos? Are you aware that trying to interfere with trials is considered the worst kind of crime, punishable by death?”
“Who said anything about murder, darling?”
Vera and I exchange a glance. I’m confused. If he wasn’t hired to assassinate me, then why—
“I was hired to convince Phoenix to drop out of the trials by whatever means necessary except murder,” Sparkle Boy says, voice light. “I was ordered to keep you safe, not end your life.”
What the fuck?
I frown. “Hired by who?”
“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know the name,” he teases, as if this whole thing is a joke to him. “I’ll tell you, but first we should discuss the terms of our collaboration.”
“I don’t know what collaboration you are talking about. The way I see it, you either tell us what you know and I might consider letting you live, or you die,” I say.
Vera comes to stand by my side and crosses her arms.
I can’t believe someone would hire a fool like him to convince me to drop out. Sure, Sparkle Boy is fae, and clearly a criminal. But from what I can tell so far, not a fighter.
Sparkle Boy finds the last and only ounce of common sense he has. “I was ordered by a handsome fae known as the Ghost. Little bird told me I may find him here today. That’s why I’m here tonight, to find out his true identity he’s been hiding from me.”
He falls silent. Vera and I watch him, waiting.
This motherfucker is in no rush. A slow grin spreads across his face.
“I see you’re not going to ask me if I figured out his identity.
Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ll still tell you.
” I press my blade harder into his skin and roll my eyes.
He’s insufferable. The next words stumble out of his mouth in a rush. “The Ghost is Daegel Talbot.”
It’s a blow to my stomach. I should know better by now. Of course Daegel would do something like that. He can’t convince me to drop out from the trials, so he hires someone to do it for him.
A dangerous thought pops into my mind. What if…he was the one who hired the assassin to scare me?
I shake my head. I don’t even want to go there.
You know he’s capable, a dark voice at the back of my head whispers. I push it away.
Vera’s face is still as stone. But her eyes are shooting daggers. I don’t have to have an ability to read her emotions to know she’s boiling with cold rage inside. “Daegel Talbot hired you to force Phoenix to drop out?”
Sparkle Boy’s gaze jumps from the blade at his neck, to me, and then to Vera. “Yes.”
Vera’s gaze snaps to me. “It sounds like your boyfriend didn’t get the message that you two are over.”
“I’m not responsible for his actions,” I snap. “But forcing me to drop out from Val’taz Ezkairin won’t win me back.”
I can tell Vera’s full of doubt.
Sparkle Boy is silent for a heartbeat. Then he says, “But here’s the thing. I didn’t seek you out because I want to force you out, Phoenix. If I wanted that, I wouldn’t have come clean about it.”
Vera and I exchange a glance.
“Fair point,” Vera says. “Then why did you seek us out and tell us this information?”
“I’m really enjoying having this intense intimate moment with you, Phoenix,” Sparkle Boy says to me, looking down at the blade against his throat. “But how about you remove this bad boy from my neck and we have a pleasant conversation without me worrying about your hand accidentally slipping?”
I shove him into the wall. “Stop. Talking.”
Vera sighs. This guy is unbearable. Did Daegel hire him to talk me to death?
She walks away from us. I glance at her over my shoulder. She wanders over to the window on the opposite side of the room.
When I don’t let go, Sparkle Boy looks past my shoulder at Vera. “Gorgeous in a pink suit, how about you help me out here? I’m on your side.”
“Vera. To you, I’m Vera. Not gorgeous, pretty, lovely, dear,” Vera says calmly. Yet, even I don’t miss a threat in her tone. “That’s not up to me. You will have to try your luck again and convince the soldier girl here yourself.”
Sparkle Boy turns to me. “Listen, I’m sorry for offending you.
I didn’t mean a word of what I said. I just get nervous, and when I get nervous I talk a lot and I say stupid shit.
” He spills the words like beans. His voice is full of pleading as if he means it.
I don’t believe him for a second. He’s slick as an eel.
“I’m your friend. Why else do you think I would risk my life coming to you with this information?
Only a fool would cross the Talbot family. ”
“That’s true,” Vera says from where she stands by the window. “So, let me ask you again—what are your intentions here?”
I release him and take a step back. But I don’t sheathe my blade yet.
Sparkle Boy rubs his neck and then curtsies. “Thank you, Phoenix darling.”
“Call me that again and see what happens,” I say. He only smirks at the threat. “Now speak, for fuck’s sake. We don’t have all night.”
I still have a crowd to charm. This asshole is wasting our time.
“Ah, you ladies are no play. Only business,” he says, fixing his suit.
He runs a hand over his hair, and the gems of the rings on his fingers catch the light.
“I’m here because I very much despise Daegel Talbot.
He has something that’s very precious to me and I want it back.
So, I figured you two will be my best chance to get it back.
I help you win, you kill Daegel to win the trials, he’s not my problem anymore.
We’re all happy and have what we want. Works like a charm. ”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” I murmur.
He winks. “Exactly.”
Vera approaches us. “Apart from telling us Daegel wants Phoenix out, what else do you have to offer us?”
“I’m charming. That comes in handy.”
I snort. “Charming. Yeah, right.”
His eyes are full of mischief. “Just because my charms don’t work on you doesn’t mean they don’t work.
Anyhow, I’m good at many things. I can scheme, lie, steal, and I’m exceptionally good at playing cards.
However, the best thing I can do for you is offer direct access to your enemy.
Right now, Daegel thinks I’m on his side. So, use me, ladies.”
I glance at Vera. She’s considering his offer. I can’t believe this. This man is slick, and insulting. No way we can trust him. I don’t even know if I believe the shit he’s saying about Daegel. My Daegel.
“Alright. I’ll consider it,” Vera finally says. “Let’s see if you can be useful. However, if I catch you lying to us, or I find you trying to do anything to sabotage Phoenix…well, let’s just say Talbots won’t be your biggest issue.”
Sparkle Boy raises his palms in the air defensively. “I only have the most honorable intentions towards Phoenix. You have my word, no harm will come her way.”
“Mm-hmm,” Vera murmurs, giving him a once-over. “Your name?”
“Jax Kregger.” The crooked smile is back on his lips. “It’s an honor to finally introduce myself to you, properly. I’ve heard so much about the famous Vera D’Argent. You’re quite a celebrity around here.”
Vera doesn’t bother with an answer. She jerks her chin at me.
“We’ve wasted enough time as is. Let’s go back to the ball to continue our networking efforts.
” Vera turns to Jax. “As for you, Mr. Kregger. Next time I see you, you better have something useful to share with me about Daegel and his plans for winning the trials. If you can’t prove useful, then I have no use for this alliance. ”