Instantly the familiar shimmer floated beside him. No other fairy could match his speed in forming a portal. Or his tolerance to iron.
Which were only two of many reasons he’d been chosen to lead his people.
Jaelyn froze, her gaze trained on the magical opening that hung near her head.
“What are you doing?”
“Returning you to Avalon.” His gaze narrowed. “And this time I will make certain no one will be coming to your rescue.”
She cursed, grudgingly turning her head to meet his ruthless gaze.
“Wait.”
“Why should I?”
“We ...” She looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “... might be able to negotiate.”
Instinctively he lifted the dagger from her neck, absently watching her skin heal the small burn.
He should return her to Avalon. No ifs, ands, or freaking buts. The odds were that she was either there to haul his ass to the Commission.
Or kill him.
Neither possibility was particularly pleasant.
Still, he hesitated.
Wasn’t there some human saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?
It was surely wiser to have her in sight until he discovered how she truly had escaped from Avalon?
Dubious logic, but he was going with it.
“Another bargain, poppet?”
“Something like that.”
His gaze lowered to the small br**sts perfectly outlined by the black spandex.
“What do you intend to offer?”
She growled, but amazingly she made no effort to sink her pearly fangs into his arm. In fact, her mouth curled into what he assumed was intended to be a smile, although it was remarkably closer to the onset of rigor mortis.
“I’m willing to give you a few days to track down Tearloch,” she managed to choke out. “If you swear you will only capture the child and not sacrifice her.”
Curiouser and curiouser.
“Why?”
“I won’t help you kill an innocent.”
He pressed the blade back to her neck. “Don’t play stupid.”
She snapped her fangs, barely missing his fingers. “Careful, fey.”
“Earlier you refused to even discuss my need to stop Tearloch and Sergei,” he reminded her. “What changed?”
She shifted until the blade was no longer burning her skin, her raven braid spilling across the damp pavement.