AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then, with a last mental order—to not eat thedraugr—tomy furred allies, I walked to the car, as if sending reanimated people and creatures into the Outs was normal.
Safely inside, I reached out for Eli’s hand.
“Not depleted, are you?” he asked.
I shook my head once. I wasn’t sure how soundproof the car actually was, and I didn’t know if I wanted that known to thedraugrwe were leaving. I sort of trusted that they were telling the truth, but my trust was limited with almost everyone. Those I trusted—like Eli, Jesse, Christy, and Sera—I trusted enough to die or kill for, but the rest of the world was greeted with a midlevel paranoia.
Honestly, it wasn’t that strange to feel that way. The list of people who wanted to harm me was longer than I’d like. Some hatred was just the way of the world, but attempts on my life weren’t rare these days. Maybe they never were. I was an aberration, not just a witch but the only person born withdraugrgenes.
If my existence were revealed, I’d end up in a lab.
And then I’d have to kill people. A lot of them. Scientists. Guards. I didn’t like to kill humans. I strived to avoid it, in fact.
“Geneviève?”
“If SAFARI or their associates discover what I am, you’ll be at risk.” I stared at him. Eli was stunning all the time, but in the low light of the late afternoon, the blacker-than-black strands of his hair looked iridescent. The fae, the shining ones, were so gorgeous that in centuries past they’d been mistaken for gods or fallen angels.
The look that my fae beloved gave me brought a strange emotion to my heart.
“Geneviève, you are the accepted future queen ofElphame.”
“Right . . .”
“We are not a warrior people without cause, but to defend our own, the swords are always kept sharp.” Eli’s usual calm slipped. “You are mine, Geneviève Crowe. And my people accepted that over Yule. Do you think we would sit idly by?”
Visions of hundreds are sword-swinging faeries made me sigh. My imagination was surely not as lovely as the reality of such a sight would be, but I was still stunned at the thought.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Good.” He squeezed my knee. “I love you enough to declare a war on humanity if I must. Never forget, bonbon, that—while I may be inconspicuous and relaxed by design—I can wade into fields of blood with just as much ease as you.”
“No one out there will ever love me the way you do, will they?” I whispered. I was starting to get a glimmer of the depths of Eli, and the immensity of his sentiment and devotion was large enough to swallow me.
“You’re very lovable, Geneviève. You may not see it, but I do. Surely others would.” Eli’s voice lightened. “Of course, I fully plan to seduce you so thoroughly no one else gets a chance.”
“Eli . . .” I didn’t feel worthy. I never really had, not of his love, not of anyone’s. Seeing myself through my friends’ eyes when I was facing death and seeing myself through Eli’s eyes these last few months had changed me in some way. Not like it “fixed” everything! Sometimes, though, death and love were truly life changing. I’d encountered both recently.
“Trust me, Geneviève,” Eli said, still sounding light-hearted even though the subject was far from light. That, too, was for my benefit. Then he continued, “My people are known for impossible bargains and feats of wonder. Surely, you don’t think I am without contingency plans for my contingency plans?”
I laughed. “I’m not sure why you’re so absurd, but I cannot imagine life or death without you at my side.”
He chuckled. “Then my nefarious plans are working . . . if only you would say yes to that outstanding bargain.”
“Fine,” I muttered. “I, Geneviève Crowe, accept your terms, Eli. One wish. And in accepting it . . . I get what I already have.”
“These terms are accepted, Geneviève Crowe. You are indebted to me for one wish at such time and place as I see necessary.” Eli relaxed as soon as the words were spoken and a chime sounded, closer and louder than it had in prior bargains.
“So mote it be.” I shivered. This bargain felt different, but I wasn’t sure why.
Eli and I made our way through the edge of the Outs and through the ghost zone. Seeing the ghost zone at this hour, with thedraugrout and about like a Friday night on Greek row was surreal. They were gathering in groups, and aside from a few exclamations as Eli navigated the car through the cluttered streets, it was a painless albeit tense encounter.
I had no illusions about the trouble we could face if we broke down there, but we kept a steady, much faster than when we were in the Outs, speed. And soon, we were crossing the bridge.
The gate was closed, but Eli paid a bribe that was enough for his car to be kept safe, and we walked the rest of the way into the city where Alice was waiting in a different car.
“I was about to get into the tub,” Ally started. “Do you need a drink? Are you going to Prince Eli’s or—”
“Alice,” Eli interrupted, much to my relief since my assistant was rapid firing more questions than I could face.
