Page 52 of Dark Fae's Secrets
“Not going to happen. The Light Fae are rightly hers as well now. You leave here, come home with immunity if you go back to your little life and stay out of the way.”
“Immunity?” she asks with a frown before she thinks about what I’ve said.
“It will go away if you even sneeze in the Queen’s direction,” I point out and her face falls. “The other options are far less desirable, Ambrosia. Trust me on that.”
“I have plenty of loyal followers. Dark Fae that are, as we speak, plotting to kill your precious Savvie. If they don’t hear from me by nightfall, they have their orders.”
Narrowing my eyes, I learn in that moment that she isn’t as stupid as she makes out. She has this all planned out. She knows exactly what she’s doing. I don’t doubt for a minute that Harris wasn’t her only ally. She could have a hundred Dark Fae under her thumb, a thousand, and we have no idea who they are.
“Kill me and she dies too. She won’t even see it coming,” she spits.
My jaw is clenches so tight, I feel sick.
“My offer has expired,” she says with a vicious smile. “New deal. I want the subject of mine that you have been harboring. Bring him to me and if you ask nicely, I will tell my subjects to stand down. We will call a truce and get on with our lives.” She clicks her fingers and points down.
I sneer. I will not beg her.
“Trey?” I ask, after a beat. “You want Trey?”
“Heisa Light Fae, so he is mine now. Plus, I know that he is supposed to marry your whore. I want him.” Her eyes flash dangerously. “Now, on your knees, Jerrick. Beg for your slut’s life.”
It was a mistake to come here, but at the same time, maybe not. I know now that there are plenty of other traitors in thePalace and we can root them out one by fucking one until Savvie is safe. But will we have time?
I have no choice.
I drop to my knees and hear her gasp in delight.
“I’m not giving him to you. He isn’t mine to give. But I ask you to spare Savvie’s life.” I have to do this. I have to protect her. She might be able to fight any enemy that she can see coming, but poison? A curse? An iron knife to the heart while she sleeps? Who knows if she can survive any of that? I’m not willing to take the risk.
“Beg me, Jerrick,” she whispers, licking her lips. “Beg me and then bring me Trey. I give you my word that I will tell them to stand down.”
“Please, spare her,” I mutter. “But I’m not bringing you Trey. He doesn’t belong here.” I won’t betray him and trade him in. Savvie needs him. If Ambrosia gets her hooks into him, not only will he suffer at her hands, so will Savvie. She loves him.
Ambrosia sits forward eagerly, and I realize at once that Trey is just a bargaining chip.
“If you don’t bring me Trey, then you know what you have to do,” she says, relaxing and lying back on the chaise, examining her fingernails casually.
I do know.
I came here prepared to do anything to keep Savvie safe.
“You’ll get your people to stand down and leave her alone?” I press, needing to hear it.
“Of course,” she says.
I stand up, feeling regret for everything. I can only hope that Savvie will one day find it in her heart to forgive me for what I’m pretending to do, just as I forgave her for what pretended with Anders to get to him. I just hope it doesn’t go as far as that. I have absolutely no desire to get naked with this silly whore.
I lock eyes with Ambrosia and say, “Then you have me to do with as you wish, Your Majesty.”
Chapter 26
Raize
Istare at Jerrick getting to his feet from kneeling before a naked Ambrosia in what is clearly, her bedroom. I ruffle out my feathers and try to suppress the rage that wells up in me that he is a traitor.
I’m about to let out a caw filled with that rage when Jerrick catches my eyes briefly before he looks back at Ambrosia and gently waves his hand at me, which is resting at his side as if to shoo me away.
It gives me pause.
