“We stopped a long time ago, for good reason!” I said harshly under my breath.
“And what are you going to do about it?” Finlay took another drink from his tankard, a challenge if I ever heard one.
A vein popped in my head. A shifter walking by noticed the woman. He got her attention, and crooked a finger at him. She mindlessly walked forward, taking his arm. He led her off into an alleyway.
The other human didn’t even notice her absence. He continued stacking boxes as if nothing had happened at all.
“Where’s she going?” I asked, voice full of dread.
“Not all of them are being used for menial labor,” Finlay said. “Put two and two together.”
I felt sick. Back in olden times, fae used humans for all sorts of nefarious purposes. We took them in as our pets, or playthings. They were used to do our work or serve as our entertainment. It was unfathomable to think this kind of thing was happening again, in the modern day.
But as I’d learned in the past year, archaic practices and vile traditions were only a stone’s throw away from being initiated again. All it took was the wrong people leading the country.
Finlay noticed the queasy look on my face and said, “Now will you join us? Our need has never been more dire.”
My jaw worked. “What do you expect me to do about this?”
“Fight back!” Finlay hissed. “You know this is wrong. How can you keep standing idly by?”
Finlay’s words rang with disgust, and I understood his meaning. Again, I thought about standing with the Malovian Revolution. Truth be told, it had been much of what was on my mind since Professor Mara had extended the invitation. I couldn’t get it out of my head.
There were risks to joining, sure. But there were also benefits. I could help people again in a way I hadn’t been able to since I’d discarded the Phantom. And if Gabby and Elijah were busy dealing with an insurrection from a secret group of rebels, they would have no time to investigate where the stones were— and furthermore, wouldn’t have an inkling to ask the cult where the griffin stone might be.
“I won't do this without asking my mate,” I said. “Let me see what Emma thinks, and you shall have your answer.”
Finlay nodded, satisfied for now. I dropped my task of looking for a ring today and headed back to the university, avoiding the eyes of the slave as I made my way forward.
Not like he noticed me— he was in his own little world, trapped inside magical bliss he could not escape. I sent a mental note out to Emma, letting her know to come to me at once.
Emma met me on the balcony overlooking Dolinska. She turned just as I shut the door to the balcony behind me.
“Gabby and Elijah are utilizing faerie circles,” I told her. Emma’s expression dropped, and continued to grow more concerned as I explained what exactly was going on.
“This is bullshit,” she seethed. “I wish there was something we could do. How can we just stand by and let Malovia become a nation supported by slavery? It’s not right.”
“Thereissomething I might be able to do,” I said warily. “But I fear it’ll make you angry.”
“Well, at least you want to talk about it this time, instead of just going off on your own and doing it anyway,” she said, crossing her arms. “What is it?”
I sighed. “There is a secret rebellion. A group of students that plots rebellion against the king and queen,” I said. “Professor Mara is a part of it, as well as Finlay and Amantha.”
Emma nodded. “I should’ve known Fin would get wrapped up in something like this. I suppose he asked you to join?”
“Yes. They want to use me as a symbol against the monarchy. I told them no, because I’m done with vigilante work. Our priority has to be finding the stones.”
“This can be part of it,” Emma said. “We need to distract Gabby and Eli, so they don’t go poking around in the cult. If anything, this is a perfect opportunity.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m breaking my promise. I swore I was done with the Phantom.”
“This is different,” Emma insisted. “A group effort to bring down Gabby and Elijah? We can’t afford to turn this down.”
“It puts me at great risk.”
“I understand that, but we’re already in danger,” Emma pointed out. “We can have allies, people on our side this time. It makes all the difference. We don’t have to battle them alone anymore.”
“Emma, are you sure?”
