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Ruya frowned at me. "But, we've been here for weeks."

I arched a brow at Yukio, but he just shook his head. "I've tried to explain, but I don't think it ever really sinks in until they're hit with hard numbers."

I smoothed the hair back from Ruya's face. "Darling, it's only been a day and a half. Time—"

"Moves differently here," she groaned. "I know. Yuki's right. He told me this. It's just… Has it really only been a day and a half?"

I chuckled. "Yes, Ruya. We came immediately. But it probably feels like you've been trapped here for ages. I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't be. You came. That's all that matters. And besides, it hasn't been all bad. The fae have been perfect hosts."

Her cheeks flushed a faint pink at that, and I arched a brow at Yukio. I got the distinct feeling Ruya had plenty of reasons to enjoy her stay in the wild fae enclave, and not all of them had to do with her hosts.

"Well," I said, recalling myself back to the situation at hand. "I'm sure this has all been very entertaining for you, elder," I said to the wild fae leader who was currently grinning at us from over his tea. "But we really should be going now."

I patted my hair back into place and looked down my nose at the fae. "I assume you'll require a favor to be paid at a later date? You can count on my court to assist you when needed, elder, provided it does not endanger my people or our… other goals."

But the smug bastard just continued to give me that same soft, slightly amused smile. "The favor is hers to repay," he said, nodding toward Ruya. "But I would speak with you a moment of your lofty goals, my dragon friend."

It took an effort not to grow claws. I did not like the idea of this fae claiming a favor from Ruya. I had hoped to smoothly transfer any such obligation to myself and the court. Because you never knew what kind of awful promise a fae would extract.

"If her bargain is made mine, then I will stay and talk," I informed the wild fae. I didn't have time for these stupid games.

"Her bargain is hers," he said evenly. "And you will sit and listen." The door behind us closed on its own, the soft thud echoing through the room like a stern warning.

We were in the heart of a wild fae enclave in the middle of the largest fae preserve in the country. Bluster though I might. Rage and burn as Sanka and I could with fire and magic… we were not leaving here until the fae allowed it, and we both knew it.

"Fine," I said curtly, lifting my chin and giving the elder a taste of the same kind of haughty self-importance his people always portrayed. "Speak and I will listen. But make it quick. I have other things I need to be doing."

"Oh, I am well aware of all the things you think you need to be doing," he informed me between sips of tea. "And that is why I have waited for you to come here."

A skitter of unease skated down my spine. That wasn't the first time he'd said he'd been waiting for me. Fae elders—especially those who were connected to the strong wild magic—often had abilities that others only dreamed of.

"Now you begin to see," the old fae told me as Yukio silently moved closer, an assassin placing himself to move with deadly precision to defend the women he loved. "Stand down, cold one," the elder said with a dismissive wave. "I will not harm your mates today. And you couldn't stop me even if I chose to murder them before your eyes, young whelp." Those sharp, inhuman eyes met mine and his voice carried a weight that it hadn't carried before.

"You lost your mates in the forest because you let your impatience and impulsivity get the best of you, dragon," he chided me in those even, measured tones. His eyes went a bit distant, and the chill I had felt earlier intensified. "You have things to accomplish," he told me, looking through me as he spoke. "There is greatness in your future. But you need to ask yourself why the fates have chosen you for your task." His gaze focused on the present again, as he glared fiercely at me. "The world does not need another evil dictator. If you would eradicate this evil that has gripped our community for so long, then by all means, do so. But do not be sloppy. Do not squander your opportunity a second time."

I blinked at him. All that drama. All that strange tension. I had been certain he was about to start spewing prophesy at me… but all he wanted to do was chastise me and tell me not to fuck up next time I went after the emperor?

"Noted," I said slowly. One could hardly laugh in the face of an ancient, all-powerful being who could literally hold you prisoner for a few centuries if you pissed him off.

The fae elder nodded. I could feel Yukio's eyes on me, burning holes in my back. Clearly, he had something to say. But I could hear all about it later. Once we were safely home.

"May we go now?" I asked, arching my brows at the fae elder. "As lovely as this has all been. I would stand a much better chance of success in that mission you just spoke of, if I weren't on holiday in the fae realms for several hundred years."

The elder barked a laugh, and I was struck again at the sense of genuine amusement. It was a strange thing to witness in a fae. But then, these were wild fae. The stick wasn't buried quite as far up their asses as it was with their high fae brethren. "You are an amusing creature, dragon," he informed me. "Please come visit us again when you are finished chasing your destiny."

I took Ruya's hand and turned to go, but the asshole spoke again. "Ah, there is just one more thing." I turned back to glare at him, and he glanced at Ruya. "There is the little matter of the bargain your young witch made for their room and board. I would speak with her alone before you leave."

I ground my teeth together. He wanted to get Ruya alone to hash out the details of their fae bargain. Who knew what trickery would ensue? "You will speak with her while we are all present. And she will not agree to anything that she doesn't wish to agree to," I growled, smoke curling from my nostrils.

The fae elder sighed and shook his head, as if he was supremely disappointed with me. "What did I just tell you, dragon? Those impulses will be the death of your cause, you know. I understand that the death-crier is your true mate, princess Iborn, but do try to recall that she has a perfectly good head on her shoulders."

Then, after calling me by my deadname, revealing that he knew all about Ruya's heritage (and more about me than I liked), and telling me to shut my mouth, the fae elder waved a hand and banished me from the room.

Chapter 14

Ruya

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