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“I don’t know what I have to offer that would inspire you to request a trade,” I said finally, picking each word carefully and making sure to keep sarcasm out of my tone.
He smiled, seeming to appreciate my participation in his game.
“As I mentioned, I kept a close eye on you. ”
“As one does when observing,” I replied.
“Yes. ” His look told me I shouldn’t interrupt again. “And I have found your attachment to your companions to be quite intriguing. You bed this one…” he pointed to Holden, “…but still you risk your own life instead of harming this one. ” Desmond was sitting beside me like a well-trained dog. My hand went to his head, as if touching him could protect him from the weight of Aubrey’s gaze.
I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t want to make him think my feelings went one way or the other.
“I want you to choose,” he said.
“I don’t understand. ”
“The terms of my trade are this. You are attached to both your male companions. I cannot tell which you care for more. It bothers me not to know, and so I want you to choose. The one you care for most you can keep. The one you do not choose will stay here in place of the girl. I will have done you a great favor. ”
“How do you figure that?” I choked out, unable to believe I was hearing him correctly.
“Once you have chosen, you will no longer be torn between them. I will have saved you the heartache of further attachment and the moment when you would ultimately have to choose anyway. Now you may do it for noble reasons instead of selfish ones. ”
“Swell. ”
“And now, Miss McQueen, if you would be so kind. Make your choice. ”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. ” Decorum be damned.
“You don’t like the arrangement?” Aubrey feigned surprise at my outburst. “I thought it to be quite fair. Do you not think it fair, Brokk?” He addressed the fairy who was holding Kellen.
“I think it more than fair,” the fairy replied.
“And you, girl. Do you find it fair?”
Kellen looked uneasy, fidgeting from foot to foot, clutching Brokk’s hand. “I’m, uh…not sure? I don’t want to go. ”
What did she mean? The fairy must have a spell over her, convincing her she didn’t want to leave. What was it with fairies putting people under spells?
“That wasn’t the question, though,” Aubrey said. “I asked if you thought my arrangement was fair. ”
Brokk patted her hand and whispered something in her ear. Kellen looked nervous but said, “Yes. Very fair. ”
Holden raised his hand. “I’m not a big fan. ”
I didn’t shush him because the deal was between Aubrey and me, so Holden could voice whatever opinion he wanted without undoing the bargain. I was still trying to suss out how I might magically talk my way out of this ordeal and still have Kellen with me when I left.
“Your Majesty, may I speak plainly?” I spoke through gritted teeth, each polite word more of an effort than the last.
“I suppose. ”
“The terms you are suggesting are ones you know I cannot possibly comply with. ”
“Nonsense, it is a simple choice. ”
“It isn’t. It is an impossible choice to ask someone to choose favorites between those she loves, and if you knew anything about love, you’d see why I can’t pick one or the other. ”
“I know love, possibly better than you do. You make a mockery of it by suggesting you can love two as equally as you can love one. The heart is not meant to be divided so. ”
