Page 120 of A Bargain with the Fae King

A sharp gasp rolls through the gathered Unseelie. Whispers linger in its wake.

I pull my hand away from Riven and step forward on my own.

A deep fortifying breath fills my lungs before I project my voice with all the confidence I can muster. “Make the trade with me. My sister for the key.”

Riven’s people wouldn’t like the trade, but it’s all we have left to offer. I’ll take their anger, their disappointment, if it means May is safe again. Maybe I’m no better than the witch after all, but I’m me and that will have to be enough.

She grins. “Such a bold human woman. I like you.”

My heart soars, victory within reach.

“But such a key is worthless without a human to wield it.”

The rising hope within me chars to ash. It flutters through my chest and settles hard as lead within my stomach.

No. We can’t fail. Not now. Not this close.

Katiya traces a clawed finger up and down her cheek as she stares me down. “Will you be coming with it?”

The key and me for May. I swallow my fear. I traded myself for her once, what’s one more time? “Ye—”

“No!” Riven’s roar shakes the ground as he jumps in front of me. “She’s bound to stay in the forest.” His strong back blocks my view. Outstretched arms extend the wall between the Unseelie and me.

“Don’t do this,” I implore, grabbing at his back, his arm, anything I can reach. “We have to save her. You promised.”

He twists his head to me, his mouth still parted in a show of pointed fangs. His jaw softens as he looks me up and down. “Going with them could break your bargain. And I will not lose you, not like that.”

The reality of his words crashes into me like a brick. A chill races along my skin, sucking away what little warmth remains. This trade could kill me.

“Is that a no then?” Katiya’s voice calls our attention.

Sigurd still stands off the side, watching us all with an amused expression.

“Please,” I beg. “Give her to us.”

Fear surges through me. Tears sting the corners of my eyes. I don’t want to die. But I can’t live with myself if I leave her with these monsters and save my own skin. I couldn’t trade places with her after the car crash. I can now.

“I’ll go,” Riven says.

A look of surprise crosses Katiya’s face before Riven nudges me back. I stumble, almost falling to the ground as he steps in front of me again.

“Take me instead.”

I gasp.

Around me, the fae stir and whisper. Voices I recognize. Ambrose. Sylvie. Even something from Sigurd. But I don’t hear their words. My heart hammers in my ears. Riven’s voice echoes through my mind, the implication of them sinking in with a dawning horror that leaves me dizzy.

“I tricked your people. I killed them. Take me in exchange for the girl,” he continues, his voice hard, adamant. “Surely a king is worth one human girl.”

“A king would offer himself for a human girl?” Her voice holds wonder and something else I cannot name. Katiya strides in our direction with precise, determined steps. Her tail flicks behind her, stirring up a small cloud of dust from the ground.

The key tumbles into my pocket, forgotten, as I grasp at Riven’s arms. “Don’t. You can’t.”

I want May, more than anything, but his people, thousands of them—more?—depend on him. And I… Sacrificing my life is one thing, but his? Regardless of what he’s done, his role in getting May into this situation, I’m not sure I can live with that choice either.

Riven ignores my pleas, my tugs on his arm, my hands that grasp at the armor on his chest. His gaze slides to me, a sad smile on his face as he answers Katiya. “For the woman I love, yes.”

My hands still. Our eyes lock. The world falls away as I stare into his emerald eyes, seeing the truth of the words he’s spoken.

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