6

I take an instinctive step backwards, my eyes on his sword. I should have expected he wouldn’t just wait outside especially with how suspicious he is of me. I haven’t started my mission, yet my cover is blown. What sort of failure is this?

But there’s no time to panic.

It’s him or us, though I highly doubt we both can take him on. And if by some miracle we manage to kill him, our people will be wiped out. Fuck! What now?

“I’m Zarek, Prince of the mystics,” Zarek introduces himself, a calm expression on his face like we aren’t seconds away from certain death. His voice is smooth and detached, like none of this concerns him.

Killian slowly lowers his sword, his grip on it not loosening. Instead it tightens, much like the hardened expression on his face. “And what is the Prince of mystics doing here in the human realm? I doubt your visit here is official seeing as I know nothing about it.” And although he’s still talking to Zarek, he holds my gaze. “And what is your fiancée doing in my company, disguised as a human?”

He pauses, uncertainty flashing through his eyes before turning to Zarek who has made himself comfortable on my couch, which is probably swarming with bedbugs, but I don’t think he needs to know that. “And why does she...” Killian trails off.

“You ask a lot of questions,” Zarek sighs before withdrawing a neatly folded paper from his pocket. Casually throwing it at Killian, he says, “That should answer most of your questions.”

“What about my questions?” I ask, irritated by how clueless I was. We’re supposed to be partners yet he allows me to get attacked claiming he was aware Killian would help, and now that Killian has discovered we’re together, he’s unbothered like this was the plan from the start.

“What is this document?” Killian asks.

Admiring his fingernails, Zarek shrugs, “Beats me. Maybe you’ll find out when you look at it.” So he’s just ignoring me. Of course, he’s always been petty like that.

Realizing just how stupid his question was, Killian clears his throat and opens the document. Summoning all the courage I’ve kept in store, I approach Killian and although his eyes are on the document, I can literally feel his gaze on me. I stop next to him, one eye on his sword and the other on the document.

“Since you were eavesdropping, you know I’m clueless about a lot of things. I’m not going to attack you so stop staring,” I say in one breath, my tone one of irritation. 

That gets him off my case and we both focus our attention on the document, only for me to feel someone staring. I look up in time to see Zarek watching us, his expression a mix of anger and irritation.

Is he… jealous?

I immediately gun down that thought. Zarek… Because of me? The same guy who has tried so many things to ensure our engagement falls through. Yeah, no way he’s jealous.

“What is this?” Killian’s voice snaps me out of my daydream. His grip is tight on the document, his eyes flashing with anger. “You mystics sure got bolder. Now you’re forging documents to trick me? Do you think I’m stupid or what? If the elders really signed this, why don’t I know about it? Why am I hearing about it from you?” 

Scoffing, Zarek cracks his neck. “Oh, yes. I do think you’re stupid. If it were up to me, I’d have gone for someone else.” Looking between Killian and I, he adds with irritation, “I still don’t see why my father insisted it had to be you who works with Auryn.”

“Work with him on what?” I asked with trepidation, something telling I wouldn’t like whatever he tells me. 

“And why should I trust you?”

Zarek opens his mouth to speak but then glances at me and keeps quiet. Instead, he closes the distance between him and Killian, whispers something in his ears and backs away immediately. Killian glances at me, his shoulders loosening a bit.

I grit my teeth, clenching my fingers into fists at my sides. Now they’re not openly being secretive.

“Again, what the fuck is going on?”

Killian hands me the paper as he leaves without another word. 

Good riddance. I was wondering if he would insist on taking me with him.

Glad he’s no longer with us, I turn my attention to the document and my mouth falls open when I read the first line. The document was an agreement to a partnership between Mystics and Holomirs–and I and Killian were the sacrificial lambs. Worse still, the partnership was proposed by my master, King of the Mystics.

Anger like I’d never felt before courses through my veins at the realization that we are the ones who offered to work with the Holomirs after what they did to us.

After banishing us to the Netherlands, and turning us into outcasts. 

Worse still, I was working with an offspring of the Clan that led the movement to banish us. 

I shut my eyes, a mix of emotions rushing through me. First confusion, then anger, irritation, disgust and finally, hurt. 

How could he lie to me?

How could he do this to me?

He told me I would be coming to the human realm to investigate the deaths happening and prove Mystics were innocent, but it turns out I wouldn’t be doing that alone. And the one person I’d sworn to avoid is the same person I have to work with.

So many questions flood my mind.

Why is everything so different from what I’ve been told?

There’s only one way to get an answer to this. “I’m going home. I have to speak with Master,” I announce. Jarek’s brows furrow together and he shakes his head negatively. “That won’t be happening. If you have questions–”

“It wasn’t a request.” Taking a step toward him, my face reflecting the same coldness he always shows me. “You either take me, or I find my way there.”