Page 18 of A Hint of Delirium

“She?” Alec tilted his head and tsked. “You’re holding out on me, Luka.”

The dude was practically shitting his pants. Since Alec was one of those fire faes, I didn’t blame him. “I-I just know it’s ashebecause Ansel met with her the other night. That’s all I know, I swear!”

Wait.

Ansel met with this person the other night? Could they possibly be referring to the shrieking lady he brought to dinner at The Black Keys? Hmph. I thought she was his girlfriend.

I cleared my throat and turned to Alec. “Ifthat’swhat you wanted to know, you should’ve just asked me instead of bothering this poor man.” I pointed to Luka’s fear-stricken face.

Alec’s icy gaze snapped to me. “You know what the last name on the registry was?”

“Y-Yes,” I stuttered. “But remember, you don’t get to demand things from me.”

He glared at me for several long, uncomfortable moments. I held his stare unflinchingly to convince him I wasn’t scared—even though I was shitting bricks myself—and finally he looked away and turned his attention back to the other man.

“Luka, if I find out you’re holding out on me again, I’ll burn this place to the ground.” His tone was amiable, but the promised threat behind his words was unmistakable.

Dragging me out into the hallway by the arm, he pushed me against the wall in a dark corner. “It’s time for you and me to have a little talk, Violet.” Alec placed both hands against the wall on either side of my face, locking me in place. He was more than a little too close for comfort.

“So, let’s talk …” I was proud that my voice didn’t wobble, but I kept my gaze locked on his chest to avoid his inscrutable eyes.

He lowered his head to place them in my direct line of vision. His eyes flashed; green and hazel orbs that seemed to pinpoint my deepest fears and pull them to the surface. “I don’t like being toyed with. What was the last name on the registry?”

I had to think fast. What the hell was so important about this registry? What was it a registry of? “If I tell you where to find out, will you let me go?”

“No.”

I shook my head. “Then I’m not telling you anything.”

He slammed his hand on the wall, making me jump. “You’re going to tell me regardless!”

I tightened my hands into fists to keep them from shaking. I refused to show him I was intimidated. “Let’s make a deal,” I blurted. Fairies loved deals, right? I seemed to remember reading that somewhere.

Alec leaned back and smirked. “You, a human, want to make a deal withme? What could you possibly offer me that’s of value?”

I had nothing of value. I had a measly five hundred dollars in my savings account. I didn’t even have any family heirlooms to barter. He took a measured step back and observed me, his eyes raking me from head to toe, lingering here and there. I felt naked and vulnerable. “I won’t offer you that!” I shouted, my cheeks flaming in embarrassment.

Alec dropped to the ground and brushed a finger against my ankle, making me shiver. “What is this?”

“An anklet,” I murmured. “It was a gift.”

A slow smile crept over his face and dread pooled in my stomach.

“I know what you can offer me.” He stood and invaded my space again. “Your time.”

“What?” I choked out.

“I want your time. It’s pretty simple.”

“I know the fae are supposed to be tricky with their words, so what does that mean? Like, you want the rest of the time of mylife?”

He burst out laughing. “No. I wantyourtime. When I call on you, you come.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. “I might not be fae, but I’m not an idiot. I won’t be your slave. I know you have human servants where you come from.”

“Hm. While the thought is enticing, no, Violet, I don’t want you as my human servant. I want you as my … friend.”

Something didn’t feel right. He was up to something, I just didn’t know what. The fact that he was suddenly being friendly was not a good sign.

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