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“What do you mean?”
“Most women, alfar or human, beg to be invited to his bed, yet here you are sharing a room with him and refusing him each night. That must be doing wonders for his inflated ego.”
“You’re not making me feel better about the situation, Levos. I am not going to be pressured into this decision.”
“And I am not trying to sway you either way. On that note, I will take my leave and leave you to your scheming. Maybe if you offered to bed him as payment it would sweeten the deal,” he said, moving towards the door.
I took off my shoe and threw it at his head.
He ducked, laughing as he opened the door. “Alright, alright, I get the hint. Good luck, sweet Genevieve. I will check on you tomorrow.”
I sat down in a chair and worked out the details of how I was going to ask Gaelin for his help. It was just a simple inquiry. I wasn’t asking him to kill anyone. He could just simply ask about her, right? I wasn’t going to use sex to further my agenda with him. I wasn’t that type of person, but I knew I was playing with fire. The closer I got to him, the more he wanted me and if I was being honest, it was getting harder for me to talk myself out of giving in. If I were to sleep with him, the act would guarantee my safety and survival.
That night I readied the room and waited for him to enter. I sat on the edge of the bed already in my nightgown. The white sheer fabric clung to my body, and a cotton robe covered some of my exposed skin. I wasn’t going to use sex against him, but a small visual couldn’t hurt. The door opened and I sprung to my feet, more alert than I had been in a long time.
“Good evening, how was your day?” I asked anxiously.
“Same as most days. We are preparing a short trip to the dark court tomorrow so I will be gone until the end of the week.” He took off his weapons and placed them by the door.
I made my way over to him and began to unlatch his jacket, trying to act normal. I could feel his eyes trailing over my face. After I hung his jacket and he removed his boots, I went back to the bed and sat patiently, waiting for him to finish in the bathroom. He stopped at the threshold of the door, peering at me perched on the edge of his bed.
“I would like to discuss something with you if that is okay,” I said.
He made his way over to me and sat softly on the mattress. “Of course, anything.”
I took a deep breath, knowing I was putting my own life at risk. If I was going to tell him the truth it had to be all of it. If he found out I was lying about a single detail Lilian’s life could be at risk, and I couldn’t have that.
“I want to preface that whatever you chose to do with the information, I understand and will not fight you on the matter, as long as you promise me you will find my sister.”
He straightened and furrowed his brow in confusion. “And who is your sister?”
“The family I told you about that I left back in The Frey…there is a member I purposefully left out. She is a young girl named Lilian Thomas. For three years, she has been the most important person in my life. Six weeks ago, she was taken by the dark alfar. I offered myself to your court to get close enough to find out if she is still alive. Levos told me that you were going to the dark court.” I shifted on the bed uncomfortably, trying to remain strong. Gaelin continued to study me, not saying a word.
I took a deep breath and continued. “I was wondering if you could inquire about her. Just to see if she is still alive or if she is hurt or being tortured. I love her more than my own life, Gaelin. That is why I am about to tell you something that you could have me killed for.”
His face went pale with shock and concern. “I would never hurt you. Inquiring about your sister is not something you would be killed over.” His face filled with concern as he reached for me, but I flinched away, feeling lightheaded as the panic and fear began to sink in.
I dropped my eyes to my lap. My hands shook as I brought them to the scarf that covered my ears. “No, it’s not,” I said, fighting my tears. “But this is.” I slowly pulled the piece of fabric away from my head, revealing my true identity. I felt him pull away. I didn’t dare look at him. I kneaded the scarf in my hands, waiting for his response.
“As I said, do what you want with what you now know, but please, find Lilian and get her out if you can,” I begged.
“Who else knows?” he asked coldly.
“Levos found out last night. That’s what you walked in on. I didn’t tell him freely; it was an accident that he saw my ears.”
“And he said nothing to me.”
I lifted my face, still shaking. A single tear escaped my eye and fell down my face. “Please don’t punish him. He wanted to tell you, but I convinced him not to. If you’re going to punish anyone it should be me.”
He turned slowly towards me, taking in each ear. “Part alfar, part human. A half-breed.”
“Yes,” I whispered shamefully. I waited for his response. He held the fate of my life in his hands. I knew this was a risk, but somewhere, deep down inside of myself, I thought the connection we were making would be strong enough to overcome anything. At least a small part of me hoped it was.
Gaelin stood up from the bed, still refusing to look me in the face. His breathing was heavy, and his lips strained in a sharp line as his eyes flickered from side to side as if they were searching for the answer to our problem.
I stood, extending my hand out to touch his arm but he pulled away from me so suddenly I jumped back.
“Half-breeds are against the law,” he said, in a tone I didn’t recognize.