“Did you just want to stare at me or was there somethingurgentyou wished to discuss?” he muttered, picking at his clean nails.
I’d read everything I could find about bargaining with the fae. All of the books warned against the perils of such agreements. Although there were a few useful lessons as well.
First, be specific. Fae were born tricksters, likely to twist your words to suit their own wicked desires. Look at the way Rían had gotten around his promise to leave Keelynn alone.
Second, be aware of loopholes. There always seemed to be some loophole to allow one side or the other to avoid keeping their promise. I needed an iron-clad agreement. One swayed in my favor, not his.
“I want to avail of that wish you promised,” I told him.
His hand stilled. “I promised you a wish in exchange for breaking a curse. Seeing as you’ve refused to do your part, there shall be no wish.”
“Please. I need that wish.” I’d beg if I had to. I’d grovel. Pride was nothing compared to freedom.
Rían quirked an eyebrow. “Why? What has changed?”
“I am to be married to a man I cannot stand.”
“Do you want me to kill him?” Rían said it as if he were asking for butter on his toast.
What sort of question was that? “Of course not.”
His head tilted. “Then what do you expect me to do about it?”
I closed the distance between us, stopping when my knees met the bed. “I want you to convince Lord Trench to pair Robert with Keelynn.” Then I would be free, my father would get his money, and all would be well.
“My magic doesn’t work like that.” Rían sniffed, brushing invisible specks from his dark waistcoat. “I can curse him, or I can kill him. If neither of those options suit, then I’m afraid this discussion is over.” He rolled off the bed, standing to his full height next to me.
This discussion couldn’t be over.
He had to help.
I caught him by the wrist to keep him from vanishing. A shock went through my fingers. “I am desperate.” Willing to pay any price. For my life. For my sister’s happiness. “I would rather die than marry Robert Trench.”
Something flickered across Rían’s features. “You would rather die,” he repeated. Slowly. Testing the weight of the words. Turning them over on his tongue. Rían brought his fingers to rub idly at his bottom lip.“If I grant you this wish, what will you give me in return?”
“What do you want?”
His smile grew, eyes unfocused. “A favor of my choosing.”
“I cannot give you a blanket favor.” He could ask foranything, and I would be forced to comply. I would literally be selling myself to the devil, trading one form of servitude for another.
“That is your choice, and you are free to make it. Goodbye, Aveen.”
And with that, Rían was gone.
The sinking in my chest became so unbearable, I collapsed to my knees.
One favor for a wish.Had I been a fool not to accept the bargain?
I was a fool either way.
“Rían!” I shouted, not knowing if he could hear me. “Come back! I accept your bargain.”
A warm hand clasped mine, and I felt the power of the bargain take hold, like an invisible chain linking my life to his. Heavy and unyielding.
Rían’s eyes glittered as he knelt in front of me, holding steady until the magic had bound us together. “I have a plan to give you what you desire, but for it to work, you will need to do exactly as I say. Do you understand?”
I didn’t. I nodded anyway.