Page 93 of Trapped to Tame
He merely shrugged. ‘Didn’t think it pertinent.’
Her eyes narrowed and Priest was suddenly glad he wasn’t on this female’s bad side.
‘I'm afraid it's too late,’ she said. ‘If Lord Gerling has already taken her to one of his many private estates, you know as well as I that the Council itself has no jurisdiction there.’ She gave a delicate yawn. ‘You'll have to take up the matter with him directly, but I believe he’s not meant to be due back at court for some days. You're welcome to petition at his borders but I doubt you'll get a response. I’m sorry we couldn’t be more help. However, the Council thanks you for your service. Your payment will be delivered directly.’
She then looked down at her desk, shuffling some documents, and didn't say anything more. The door behind them opened. They had been dismissed.
They went back to their rooms and Fie immediately shouted his frustration.
‘How could she be gone already? He must have known from the moment he saw her. He had this planned! Gods, he could have taken her anywhere.’
Priest ran a hand through his hair as Fie kept up his tirade, feeling empty. He couldn’t even feel the bond as more than a fragile tendril and, gods help him, he missed the all-encompassing force of it.
Someone knocked at the door of their chamber and Fie quieted immediately. Priest drew a knife and opened the door a crack, surprised to see Councilor Isbeth herself in the hall.
He let her in immediately.
‘Close the door,’ she ordered, ‘and conjure silence.’
Priest did as she said, nodding when he was sure no one could hear them.
‘I couldn’t speak freely in front of Belarus. He and Gerling always ally themselves with each other,’ she said, sitting down and looking at the jug of wine that stood on the table.
Drax poured her a goblet and she took it without a word.
‘Your mate is half fae.’ It wasn’t a question.
‘How did you—’ Fie began but she cut him off with an incredulous look.
‘Because I’m no fool. What I want to know is why Gerling is so interested in her. He rarely troubles himself with anyone’s affairs but his own. For him to promise any sort of selfless assistance is unheard of. Do not lie to me. I will know.’
‘She’s Gerling’s daughter. He had her taken to the Light Realm when she was a babe as payment for a debt.’
Isbeth scoffed. ‘That sounds like Gerling, all right.’ She shook her head. ‘Goes on and on about not diluting our bloodlines with the humans to anyone who’ll listen, but you best believe he uses them to sate his hungers. Fucking hypocrite.’
She put the goblet on the table. ‘I will find out where he’s gone, but it won’t be easy. There’s a party tonight to celebrate the return of the children.’
‘Aye, we’ve received an invitation,’ Fie acknowledged.
‘Be there.’
‘Why would you help us?’ Priest asked, suspicious. No one here did anything for free.
‘For two reasons. Our numbers decrease with every passing day. We need more births. The horde is chomping at our borders all the time and, if you’re truly her mates, multiple fae offspring are almost certainly assured. Gerling’s plans for her are unlikely to result in the same.’
‘And the other reason?’ Drax asked.
The Councilor stood. ‘I grow tired of his constant intrigues and his rhetoric. He would have the fae die out before we ‘contaminate’ our families with new blood. I wish to spend time with my grandchildren.’ She walked to the door. ‘If you get a chance to kill him, take it.’ Unlatching it, she turned back and surveyed them. ‘This meeting never took place.’
Priest nodded, closing the door behind her.
‘Are we really to waste our time at a party while our mate is in gods only know what sort of danger?’ Fie growled, crumpling the invitation that had been delivered earlier in his fist.
For once Priest agreed with his Brother, but they had to find Eve if they were going to save her and, in the fae realms, information came at a price like everything else.
Chapter 12
Eve
