Page 88 of A Tale of Treachery

Ryken looked away, avoiding eye contact. “No.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “Where’s Fin? He’ll help me.”

“He’s busy. And before you ask, no, I won’t tell you where he is.” He locked eyes with me, the corners of his lips turning up into a smirk. “Have a safe trek home. Tell your little prince I said hello.”

“Ryken, please,” I begged. “It’s important. It’s about the witches and the mages. They’ve been captured. Eulalia, too. Fin will never forgive you if you don’t help.”

“I said no. Go on. It’s time you made your way home.”

My mouth dropped open. I was shocked at his indifference for me, for Fin, for Fin’s mate, and didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t rescue all those people on my own. I needed Fin’s and Ryken’s help. I was watched too heavily to rescue everyone. There was no way to free them from the dungeon without outright declaring treason, and I certainly couldn’t rely on Aiden’s word.

“A bargain,” I blurted out, desperation brimming over. I grabbed his arm and looked at him, pleading and praying he wouldn’t refuse me. “I’ll make a bargain with you. I’ll give you anything you want in exchange for your and Fin’s help freeing my friends.”

Ryken tore his arm from my grasp. “You have nothing that I want.”

“Why are you being like this?” My voice cracked.

“Because you showed me where I stand. I’m done sacrificing for you, redirecting my attention from my path to ensure that you are safe and happy. I’ve wasted too much time already.” He walked away and slid down the cave wall, closing his eyes as if drained.

I did have something he wanted. Information. But I couldn’t and shouldn’t tell him. Telling him would doom our world.

But my best friend was already doomed.

I could bargain with him. Tell him that I’d show him the location of the crystal. It’s not like he would be able to enter the portal to retrieve it. He would be furious, for sure. He’d probably never forgive me.

But that would all be a problem for tomorrow.

Today’s problems had to come first.

“I can still hear you breathing.” Ryken sighed and opened his eyes, grinding the back of his head against stone. “Can you leave?”

“I do have something you want.”

The comment piqued his interest, and he cocked his head, studying me with a look of consideration.

“But you’re being a real prick, demanding something like this. What happened to you?”

“You happened to me,” Ryken growled. “Go on.”

I closed my eyes in a silent prayer. He was really testing my patience. “Your powers, the crystal, I know exactly where they are. I’ll show you the location in exchange for your help rescuing the witches and mages.”

A look of fury flashed across his face, and he rose, approaching me with the agility of a wildcat. He walked me back toward the wall and pushed his body against mine. His breath crested my skin, and I shivered.

“You know where my powers are and didn’t think to tell me?” He threw his head back and laughed, a mocking sound. “You’re even more conniving than I thought.”

“I tried to find you, Ryken…”

Not to tell him where his powers were, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Tell me where they are,” he demanded, his hand coming up to squeeze my jaw.

I tsked. “That’s not how this works.”

“Fine, I help you save your friend, and you tell me where the crystal is.”

“You help me save every last witch and mage who’s been imprisoned, and once they are all rescued and safely relocated, I willshowyou the location of the crystal,” I argued, choosing my words carefully.

“Deal. But this bargain won’t be a small favor. This one is sealed with a kiss,” he warned, his eyes backlit in a bright silver hue. “Consequences of breaking a bargain this serious aren’t to be taken lightly.”

---