Page 22 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“What happened to understanding before judgment?”

“Iunderstandthat every species loves playing their games. Pixies do it to torture, warlocks do it to get the best, most twisted deals. Vampires do it out of excitement. And the Fallen do it for fun. I couldn’t find much on you, but I have enough. It’s engrained into you, thesegames.”

He lifted his brows. “And the other species? Fae, witches, wolves? Why do they do it?”

The Fae didn’t. I had misspoken on that one. The witches’ entire lives were based around the game, the wolves however? I couldn’t be absolutely sure about them. They seemed true. No nonsense. They lived off of instinct alone.

When I didn’t respond, he pushed himself to a stand. “You came all the way back from your errands believing that I had lied to you about my magic,” Cole stated. “Why?”

I took a step back as he rounded the table. “I know things,” I answered, watching as he leaned back against the table and folded his arms across his chest. “I know how to get information.”

He studied me carefully, not even glancing at the rock in my hand. Why would he? It was just a rock. He had faced all kinds of monsters, none as terrible as the man he worked for. Why would he be afraid of a rock when his people used far worse to torture others? “I’d like tomake a deal,” he finally decided.

If he were a warlock, I would say absolutely not, but a deal with a Fallen? There were pros and cons to that.

I could get more information from him, like I had wanted. I could study them, add the information to my books.

But he could kill me. He could steal me away, take me to Arkalious. Rape me, torture me. He could hand me over to his High King.

Something cold dripped down the back of my neck, spreading through my lower back. “What kind of deal?” that feeling pushed me to say.

“Stupid, reckless girl,”my rational voice whispered.

“Do it. One last reckless thing before you becomeboringfor the rest of your life,”that irrational voice whispered through me.

I was supposed to stop taking risks. I was supposed to break that habit before Mark moved in, but…some habits were hard to break.

Just one last reckless decision. It couldn’t hurt, could it?

A smile touched his lips, as if he knew he had gotten me. He had won.

Maybe he had.

“We can help each other,” he offered, sliding his hands to either side of him, gripping the edge of the table. “I help you finish stocking your home, and you let me stay here and tell me what you know.”

I wondered if I was making up the lithe threat I heard in his tone. “I know a lot, I don’t need a lot,” I negotiated.

A light sparked in his eyes. Excitement that I was playing his game,I guessed. “I can offer you information on the Fallen.”

A counteroffer I wanted. “Whatever questions I want?”

He thought about it and shrugged. “Sure.

“Hmm,” I mused, considering his offer. I searched his eyes and saw nothing but truth in them. I didn’t have to give him everything. I could give him just enough to leave him satisfied and hope he didn’t go through my things.

“Fine,” I finally decided, lifting up my chin. “It’s almost curfew, so I need to leave. I’ll be back in the morning and tomorrow afternoon we’ll go to the city.”

His brows lifted in slight shock. “You’re going to take me to the city? That’s a big risk.”

I allowed a small smile. “I know how to disappear. You’ll be the one caught and hung if you don’t play by the rules.” I turned for the door. “Don’t touch anything.”

“Why are you trusting me?” he asked just before I reached the door.

I paused and looked back, finding that he had taken a step after me. “I don’t trust anyone, but kindness is so rarely given these days, even more so received. I’m giving you a chance to prove to me that your species wasn’t actually derived from the nightmares of this world.”

He released a breath. “Are those the stories?”

I nodded once. “Michael, Gabriel, and Enoch plucked the nightmares out of the minds of those already created, pressed them together, shoved them through the Staff, and birthed you. It corrupted the Staff. Everyone created afteryou has a shred of darkness in them because of that, but you? The Fallen? You are literally what nightmares are made of.”

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