Page 31 of The Witch & the Tiger

“I suspect you will,” he said to Z’Hana, still smiling that predatory smile. “It might surprise you to know that I do have some interest in making sure the Unseelie stop their dealings, at least to the degree they’re currently doing it. I would much rather keep the laws of the Unseelie Court as they are. I would stick to the original deal that was made.”

“A moment. I’ll need to confer.” Z’Hana beckoned to the others, and they clustered outside the door, though it remained partially open. In a quiet tone, Z’Hana asked, “What do you make of this conversation?”

Professor Umber shook his head. “You cannot trust fae and especially those of the Unseelie Court. They know exactly what to say, but their motivations are entirely selfish, and they have zero regard for mortals.”

“Yet he saved Yannick,” Martin pointed out. “He didn’t have to. He had no reason to.”

“A bargaining chip. A trick to make us trust him. These fae don’t do things out of the goodness of their hearts. They’re malevolent. That’s the whole point.”

Martin continued, “He’s under an obligation to tell the truth. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m inclined to release him. It sounds like he might actually be the solution to all of these issues. The fae even chained him up!”

“Even with truth, things can be omitted,” Umber retorted. “The question is knowing what exactly he chose to omit and how that will affect us.”

“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Martin said then. “If the Unseelie themselves chained him up, then we need to think of it this way: An enemy of our enemy is our ally. If he is holding something back, and I understand it’d be stupid to trust an Unseelie fae – we should try to ask questions to gather if he will actually try to stop the fae from meddling in our world. Maybe we should make a contract or something with it since fae are so fond of those.”

The professors examined Martin before Umber beckoned for them to return. Morgryn looked slightly bored as they fanned out around him, and Umber took the lead in speaking this time.

“Okay. We have a few more questions before we’re satisfied. The first is – if we release you, will you be trying to fix the issues that the Unseelie Court is creating in the mortal realm?”

Morgryn let out a rather dramatic sigh and gave a diva-like eye roll. “Yes. I intend to stop the Unseelie Court from interfering with the mortal realm. The cost is not worth the pleasures it can bring.”

“Have you informed us of all the dangers that are facing us right now?”

At this, one corner of his mouth quirked up. “No.”

“Would you… tell us?”

“I think you’re well equipped enough to deal with it. As guardian of my prison, I recommend that you hurry, though. It will become more and more noticeable by the moment that the door has been opened.”

Umber cursed under his breath. “I think that’s about as much as we can get from him.”

“One more question,” Z’Hana said. “Can I call upon you for help, as my aim is also to stop immortals meddling in our realm?”

“Perhaps. But it will be at my convenience only. Are you now all satisfied? May I be granted my freedom? Remember – thanks to your clever little witch here, I won’t be using my gifts to harm you directly.”

What about indirectly, though? Maybe that base was not properly covered. Willow patted her neck nervously, noting the dampness there.

Tersely, they agreed to let the Unseelie fae go. Kati cleared her throat, announcing that the deal was concluded.

The chains around Morgryn faded away as if rubbed out, and the immortal flexed his fingers, rubbed his wrists, and let out a deep, relieved sigh.

“Finally.” He crouched by Yannick, and everyone tensed. “Relax. Yannick will wake up within a day. The process to leave hibernation is already starting, but he will need assistance to get out of here. I have some… urgent matters to deal with as soon as possible, so I will leave you now.”

“What about the guardian you mentioned?”

A sound like rushing water echoed to them from a distance, and everyone shot one another a panicked look.

“I am certain that you can handle it. I cannot afford to waste my powers. I may or may not contact you soon.” Morgryn bowed, and in the bow, a green light flickered around him, and he faded from view.

Z’Hana started cursing. “I hate fae sometimes.”

“I don’t want to be a downer, but I think the tide’s coming in,” Marlon said.

“Then we better get going!” Martin barked, picking up the limp body of his friend. The others helped, and they all turned and sped for the door while Willow prayed that her magic wouldn’t fail them now.

Chapter Nine – Martin

Again. Ever since entering this place, all the fragmented memories had returned to him, relentless and brutal in their images. With the removal of the time obfuscation spell and with physically seeing the place he’d stepped foot into over five months ago, everything returned, fresh as a new wound.

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