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“What do you want?” Chris asked.
“I want a bargain with Cosette.”
“No.” I didn’t want to speak for Elowen, but I was pretty sure that was the last thing she wanted. “A bargain with me is a direct line to my mother.”
The scent of pine and fresh air started to overpower the scent of fried food as she sat straight in her chair. “What?”
“You have no idea what making a bargain with me means, but trust me. You don’t want it.”
Elowen closed her eyes for a moment, and I wondered if it was anger or fear or if she was trying to find her patience.
“Fine,” she said when she opened her eyes again. “I’ve had enough of your mother.” Elowen snapped her fingers and a golden coin nearly three inches in diameter appeared in her palm. “Here it is.”
Chris moved to grab it, but Elowen closed her fingers around the coin.
“Terms.” She said, moving her hand close to her chest. “Should a time arise when I find myself in distress, I want not just you to come to help me, Christopher. I want you and Van and Cosette and Tessa—”
Chris leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. He crossed his arms, and I wasn’t sure if it was disappointment or pity on his face. Either way, I didn’t like it. For Elowen to bargain the chip away at all was in our favor, but so far, this seemed reasonable. Although, what she meant by distress and the level of risk needed to be negotiated before we came to full terms. But—
“This is what you don’t get. What none of you fey get.” Chris looked at each of us. “You don’t have to make a bargain to get me to do anything. If you were in trouble, all of us would come. Tessa, Dastien, Lucas, Claudia, all of us. All you have to do is let us know that you need help, and we’d be there.”
“You would?” Elowen asked.
“Yes.” Chris sounded a little outraged that she’d even ask.
Elowen seemed to be as confused as I was. Her mouth kept opening and closing, before she finally spat out some words. “And what about Eli?”
“I can’t control the archon. No one can. But I know I, Tessa, Dastien, Lucas, and Claudia would come without any strings. If Meredith and Donovan were able, they’d come, too. I don’t know Blaze, Shane, Beth, or River well enough to speak for them, but it’s a safe bet that they’d join us if there was a big fight involved. And none of us, not a single one, would want anything in return. No favor or bargain. We wouldn’t even need to like you very much. If you’re hurting and we can help, we’d come because it’s the right thing to do.”
A little wrinkle formed between Elowen’s brows. “You wouldn’t ask anything from me? Hold a debt?”
“No.” Chris left no doubt or uncertainty in his tone.
“I…” Elowen blinked and a tear dropped down her cheek.
I wondered why her glamour hadn’t hid it from view.
“I…” She started again, but it was like she couldn’t form the words.
But she’d never lived outside of her court. She didn’t know the treasure of real friendship. “I know.” I handed her a napkin. Being at court for the last
three weeks made me almost forget how amazing my friends were. “It used to shock me, too, but I’ve been my mother’s spy for too long. The fey are different, and I’m not so sure if we’re better anymore.”
“I’m not sure we ever were,” Van said.
“Is that why?” I asked Van my half-question. It was something we never talked about. How had he gone from being a god to nearly fading into nothingness?
“Yes. That’s part of it, and I don’t want to talk about the rest.” He gave me a look that told me clearer than any words to drop the subject.
That’s the most I’d gotten out of him in nearly a century and a half. So, I let it go.
Elowen looked down at the coin. “You’ll really help me. If I get taken again? If… Even if it’s dangerous? Even if it’s in the Lunar Court and you could die trying, or become a slave?”
“Yes.” Chris’ voice was true and confident. “If you need help, all you have to do is get word to me. I’ll come. No matter what. And I’ll bring everyone I can.”
This was Chris at his best: protective, honest, trusting. It was understandable that Elowen was having trouble trusting this, because it was the opposite of everything that she’d ever known. But I hoped for her sake—and ours—she’d hear the truth in Chris’ words.
“Okay.” She held out the coin to Chris. “Then take it, and use it well. Because the heart that you and your friends have? It’s not everywhere.”
