Page 60 of A Deal with the Shadow King

I bite my bottom lip and shiver at the thought of what lays underneath his golden mask.

Jo doesn’t seem put off by the idea of immortality, and a hint of longing pierces through his measured voice. “Coming from Demeter, you must be used to hereditary monarchies, but the Fae do things differently. It’s a meritocracy—the strongest lion becomes king of the pride. You do have lions in the old world, right?”

I shake my head, still clutching the book.

“Damn, what a pity. It means that the strongest individual gets to rule. It’s usually one of the High Fae from the shadow realms, but it doesn’t have to be.” He grazes the trim. “You don’t have to read it all here. You can borrow it, if you want.”

“Isn’t that forbidden? I mean—” I look down, and my hair cascades down the side of my face. “It’s a third-floor book.”

A chuckle warms his breath. “Third-floor book…I like it. I’ll make you a deal, milady.” He presses his hands over mine for a second, long enough to make me blush. “I’ll let you borrow the book to thank you for healing me, and no one has to know.”

I gape at his playfulness. “Won’t you get in trouble if someone finds out?”

“I can get in a little trouble to repay you for your kindness.” He offers me his arm the way a young gentleman in Demeter would. The way Isaac used to. “I’m going to hit the buffet before I change, you wanna join?”

A smile escapes me. “Lead the way, milord.”

Two interrupts my early breakfast with Jo almost as soon as it begins. I made sure to hide the book deep in my bag, below the others, but I still check that the flap is safely clasped as the dark Fae comes to a full stop next to our table.

The sneer stuck on his face doesn’t bode well for me, and my eyes narrow at the intrusion. “Good morning.”

Two looks down his nose at us from behind his mask. “I guess I’m stuck with you now.”

Sunshine reflects off the stony rings on each of his fingers as he cracks them one by one.

Jo makes a face somewhere between an eye-roll and a sheepish grin. “See you later, Nell.”

Both hands braced on the table, I reluctantly stretch to my feet. “Thank you for this morning. It was fun.”

“Thank you. You saved me.”

Two tilts his head back and groans. “Stop flirting and come with me. I haven’t got all day.”

I hurry after him, choosing not to let his attitude affect me. “If you hated the idea of training me, why didn’t you say no?”

If he likes Mara so much, maybe he can be persuaded to switch me back. After my discussion with Jo, I simply need to speak with One alone, and if I convince Two to send me straight back to him, it’ll make things much easier.

“Is One that much more powerful that you have to obey him?” I ask with my best air of naiveté.

Two cranes his neck around to look at me. “Don’t play with me. I won’t switch you back. If One gave you to me, he must have had a reason.”

“Hm. Maybe,” I say wistfully.

That compels him to stop, and the pieces of broken glass covering his mask reflect a dozen fractured views of my mischievous grin. He opens his mouth to speak but thinks better of it and starts walking again.

If I can goad him into asking about the switch, I might tickle his curiosity. According to what I’ve witnessed so far, Two is in love with himself. Big male egos are usually best served with flattery, and I can be twice as charming as Mara if I put my mind to it.

I’ve got practice, the tournaments back home full of young men dying for praise. What a powerful horse you have here, Sir. Did you break him in yourself?

But I’m not sure what makes the second brother tick. I need to get him on my side first. Earn his respect.

One is clearly not inclined to share his secrets, but if Mara is to be believed, Two’s a tattletale. With the right incentive, he might spill the beans about Morrigan. I might just be spinning fairy tales, but something about the story Jo told me simply rings true.

Chapter 22

Pas de Deux

For my first lesson, Two guides me deep inside the belly of the castle. The air is stale in this part of the tunnels, and a few widely-spread torches light our path.

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