Page 16 of Kingdom of Lies

Hard as I try to cling to old hatreds and hurts, something in me stirs, like a long-dormant seed finally sprouting toward the light. Try as I might deny it, this chance encounter has awakened echoes of who I used to be before the harshness of life burned away the best parts of myself.

She wisely keeps her head down, not wanting to draw the ire of any who would punish her presence here.

As we step outside the gates, I pull my cloak tight, wary of being spotted with this human, but compassion stirs within me against my hardened instincts. To ease an old woman's suffering reflects no weakness, I tell myself, though uncertainty looms as the girl leads me into the unknown night.

"You have a good soul, dark elf. I will not forget what you have done this day." Her soft words weaved through the evening, carrying us closer to her home.

9

KATHLEEN

“Are you willing to do anything to save your grandmother?” the dark elf asks.

Am I willing to do anything? I am more than willing to do anything I can to save my grandmother's life. She lays wounded and unconscious, and every moment spent pondering my next move is keeping me from being able to help her.

And dark elves don’t do good deeds for free.

So, am I willing to do anything? Yes.

"Yes," I say cautiously. I watch him with wide eyes as shivers of uncertainty wrack my entire body. I am putting everything on the line and gambling my nonexistent cards to the hands of a dark elf stranger.

"And you are sure about this?" he asks cautiously.

"Yes, I am the surest I've ever been," I say, and while the words are true, there is a part of me that is understandably hesitant to accept this stranger's offer.

I'm not sure if it is my body he'll want or my time. Whatever it is, I’ll give it tenfold if he can help my grandma. I just hope he won’t ask for too much. I can't say that to him though for fear of him changing his mind because I truly don't have much to offer.

He eyes me warily; his face is determined and roams over my tattered appearance. He pauses to meet my frantic eyes with an all-consuming stare. The intensity of his dark eyes sends a ripple of intriguing fear surging through my body.

"Are you willing to sign your life away to me in exchange for a healing potion?" He poses the question directly, never breaking eye contact. He waits stoically for me to answer.

I nod eagerly, barely giving myself a moment to consider what he is asking of me. My life to save my grandmother is an easy trade. My heart races knowing that luck is finally on my side today. There isn't much I wouldn't do for my grandma, she's all I have.

"Then be my slave and pretend to be my mate," he says with an authoritative air of suggestion.

My brows raise in surprise. I'm not sure if I heard him correctly.

His mate? Is that what he just said? I don't even know his name.

His offer hits me like a punch to the gut, I feel the blood drain from my face. I can't fathom what that even means, or how that would be possible. My nerves are chaotically buzzing, the lump in my throat accompanies the lightheadedness that overcomes me.

"So will you? Be my slave and help me? I am willing to help you in return," he reiterates his stance.

I pause and turn away, giving myself a moment to process what he's asking. I know I don't have much time to gamble with his promise of help for grandmother, but the finality of what he's proposing isn't at all lost on me.

My breath hitches slightly as he says the word, and I feel myself growing cold all over. A dark elf's slave. It sounds so... final. So... permanent. But if it means saving my grandma's life, then I'll agree. "I-I'll do it," I stammer, wondering what this dark elf has in store for me.

"Very good," he says slowly. He appears to be pleased with my answer, and it scares me. What could he possibly need a pretend mate for? And a lowly human girl at that?

I watch him as he appears lost in thought, clearly mulling over whatever this situation of his is before he nods with a satisfied expression. He meets my eyes, and I see something lurking beneath the surface.

There's trouble laying there, something is weighing on him. I look away before I can offend him, but I can feel the truth. He too is in trouble.

He shifts, breaking my stare and reaches forward, his fingers brushing against my wrist gently as he pulls out a small parchment and ink from his pocket. The parchment is cold and rough against my skin as he presses it into my hand.

A chill runs through me at his unexpected touch, but I resist the urge to pull away. I take a deep breath and begin to read the contract; it's written in the dark elf language that I don't understand.

"What does it say?" I ask tentatively, my voice wavering.

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