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“About two years ago, these snakes appeared out of nowhere. Black slimy things that secrete poison from the glands when they feed. That poison has been destroying our soil, affecting other animals. It’s almost as if these snakes are creating a plague, hence the name.” Seeing how he watched me speak, urged me to tell him more. “My firehawks hunt these snakes and we were so close to complete eradication . . . but then they got sick. I . . . I think they’re dying.”
The insect casually sunning itself on Baine stilled.
When Baine didn’t respond, I cursed myself for being too open with him, but decided to keep talking. “I can’t go away for three years. Do you think Lord Demious will help my home if I marry him? He has to know a way to save the hawks and remove the snakes, right?”
“What if there was another way?”
“What do you mean? Another way for what?”
Instead of answering, Baine examined the dragonfly on his arm before the bug took flight and disappeared. Baine’s gaze followed the insect, watching it zip across the water.
“You don’t belong in captivity,” he said.
“Captivity? Is that what you think of marriage?” I laughed. He didn’t.
Gazing over at me with long full eyelashes, he continued, “Marrying Lord Demious will remove your debt and you can pay to hire someone to take care of your farm or bring your firehawks here once the problem is solved, but you’ll never be allowed to leave Farrow’s Gate.”
“It’s pretty here. I don’t think I would mind staying,” I joked, feeling unsettled by Baine’s comments.
“After you’ve been in your cage long enough, you’ll believe that.”
Why was Baine so concerned about my life or what happened? “What does it matter to you? I’m just a prospect.”
“You’re much more than that.”
I gaped at him, surprised by his words. Was it because he knew about my magic or had a feeling about it? Were fae sympathizers of other races?
Baine stood and held out his hand. “We need to leave.”
Taking it, I let him help me to my feet. “What’s the other way?”
With his hand still wrapped in mine, he said, “I’ve worked for Lord Demious for a long time and have quite a bit of coin saved.”
“No. Absolutely not.” I ripped my hand out of his. “I’m not taking your money.”
He frowned. “But you will marry or be a slave for it?”
“That’s different.”
Folding his arms, his frown deepened.
“I’m not taking your money,” I said, turning on my heel and moving back to Enola’s house. “End of discussion.”
“Would you take an investment?”
I stopped, my body heating with frustration.
His steps sounded closer until I knew he was standing right behind me. “I would be willing to invest my coin into your firehawks.”
Would he? Could I? “And Lord Demious would just allow you to do that for me?”
“Let me worry about Lord Demious. This is a better solution, and one that will set you free from any debt.” His voice lowered. “Consider it.”
“Why? Why does it matter to you so much?”
The closeness of his body to mine sent my heart into a tailspin, and I knew he had to hear it with that fae hearing of his.
“You remind me of someone.”
