Page 11 of Fae Trials

I skimmed her note, my gaze falling on the words ‘I’ll be beyond your reach.’ It could refer to the offshore rig or—

A loud gasp slipped through my lips.

“The Mound!”

I doubled over, crying out my anguish. Why else would she leave in the middle of the night when the dark fae roamed the streets? She was going to make a bargain with one of those wicked creatures.

Nothing good ever came from making bargains with the fae. They always twisted the agreements, so that what they demanded in return was more than what they gave. I ran back to the bedroom and pulled off my nightgown.

Light fae were vindictive bastards. Dark fae were just plain evil. A woman asking for irresistible beauty would get precisely what she wanted but either ended up being irresistible to dogs or tricked into decades of servitude in a fae-run brothel.

I shoved on a pair of ratty jeans, threw on a top, and rushed out into the living room. The only spare piece of iron we had was the horseshoe we hung over the door to keep out lesser fae who didn’t need invitations to enter a human’s home and cause mayhem.

After slipping the iron into my pocket, I opened the door, letting in the chill.

Dark shadows stretched across the cobbled street, seeming to move as though alive. I sucked in a breath and stepped out. No matter what, I had to catch up with Sicily before she condemned herself in a bargain.

Chapter 4

After navigating the maze of alleyways unscathed, I turned into the Doolish Road and fixed my gaze on the town square in the distance. Sicily couldn’t have gone too far. With no money beads, she would have to walk to the nearest active bargain circle, which could be hours away.

My feet pounded the cobblestones, and the low buildings on either side of the road formed a blur. Hooded figures—some knee-high and others as tall as eight feet—paused to watch as I passed, but no one approached.

I reached the town square, and my steps faltered. Instead of the vast market of the previous morning, winged fae mingled with goblins, dwarves, and creatures that covered their misshapen forms in cloaks. Many of them gathered around a large bonfire, which stank of singed hair.

Sucking in a deep, fortifying breath, I tried not to consider what manner of creature had perished in flames and wove my way through the crowd of non-humans. From what I understood of the bargain trade, a broking hag could put humans in touch with dark fae for the right price.

A strong hand grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?” said a familiar voice. “Trying to get yourself killed?”

I spun around and glowered into Elijah’s eyes. “What do you care?”

The muscles of his face tensed. “You know better than to roam the streets after dark—”

“Sicily’s gone to make a deal,” I said. “Do you know which bargain circle is active tonight?”

Eyes widening, Elijah released my arm as though it was made of molten shit. “Why would she—” He stopped himself from continuing the sentence.

I guessed he knew why my sister had stooped to such a desperate measure, and he didn’t want me to bring up the subject of his refusal to help us.

“There’s a group of deal-makers at the Hope Woods circle, but you can’t go there,” he said.

There was no point in asking why. I didn’t want to hear that the woods were dangerous for human girls, especially after dark. I broke into a run across the square.

“Unity.” Elijah’s voice was non-committal. Like he ought to call me back just to make himself feel like he’d done everything he could to stop me from getting killed or enslaved.

He didn’t give chase, confirming that he’d already washed his hands of Sicily and me. As I approached the fire, a thin, human-shaped male in ragged clothing stepped into my path, his silver eyes gleaming like stars. His features twisted into a grin that reached the outer edges of his eyes.

My stomach dropped to my knees, and my feet froze on the cobblestones.

Fuck, the creature leering at me was a Jack of Smiles. But there was nothing funny about how he fed on his victims. Anyone caught in his mesmerizing stare for longer than three heartbeats lost the ability to taste, smell, or feel any kind of pleasure or joy.

I snatched my gaze away from the monster and caught sight of a centaur weaving through the crowd. He wore a saddle, which meant he was open for business.

“Hey, stallion!” I trotted after him.

He turned around and swished his golden ponytail. “Are you talking to me?”

Joy surged through my chest, but I didn’t know if that was the Jack of Smiles bringing my emotions to the surface. “How much to take me to Hope Woods?”