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“Everything.” And he popped out.
Fury burned bright as he disappeared without helping. It was typical behavior for Eli, but it seriously pissed me off like nothing else. Maybe if he hadn’t almost gotten me killed before…but I didn’t trust him anymore. If Eli was here, then something was about to go terribly wrong.
I spun to Ziriel. “What was Eli doing here?”
“Well, it seems whenever he comes to visit, you’re not far behind.”
I gave him a seething look, and Ziriel held up his hands.
“Eli’s been coming in and out the last couple of weeks.”
“Why?” Eli didn’t show up unless there was trouble brewing, and I really, really didn’t need anything else on my plate. Wasn’t it enough that I had to find a husband? “What’s going on?”
“Uh-uh-uh.” Ziriel wagged a finger in front of my face, and I wanted to break it off. “You weren’t sent to spy. Remember? You weren’t going to ask questions. Remember?”
I inhaled and let out a breath. “Fine. But if people—from any court—start dying while I’m here, I get to ask you questions.”
“One question.”
“Ten.”
“Two.”
“Nine.”
“Two.”
“Eight.”
“Three.”
“Five. Final offer.”
“Five is acceptable.”
I shook my head. Fey negotiations were always tricky, and Ziriel loved his deals. They were the currency of the Court of Gales.
“Now, let’s go find your son.”
Ziriel clasped my shoulder again. “I think I would enjoy having you as a daughter-in-law. You’re so fun to bargain with.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re exhausting.”
“But as lovable as Eli?”
I laughed. “Sure. You’re as lovable as Eli.” Although that wasn’t saying much at all. Still, the man made me laugh. I hadn’t really met his son the last time I was here, but I wondered what kind of man he’d be. Ziriel was handsome enough. Maybe his son would be, too.
I just really hoped this worked out. I gave Van a quick glance. He was there, behind me, guarding my back as always. I trusted him—loved him—but not the way that mattered. Not for marriage.
As much as I loved Van, he wasn’t an acceptable plan b. There was no way I could go through with marrying him. Not in a million years.
Chapter Nine
CHRIS
I was sitting neck-deep in warm water in the fancy claw-foot tub, surrounded by floral scented bubbles, and I’d never felt more uncomfortable in my life. I wasn’t sure I’d actually ever soaked in a tub before—maybe when I was a kid—but I didn’t like the idea of sitting in my own dirt. I preferred a shower, where the dirt would just wash away.
But it wasn’t just being in the tub that was making me uncomfortable. I couldn’t stop thinking about how the little fey beast could go invisible. Was it watching me now? Was the room actually packed with fey just staring at me, while I sat here in the dirty water like a chump?
