approached us.
Zeph raised his arm menacingly. His fin fanned wide open.
“I would like to talk, not to fight.” Radax lifted his hands, both palms facing our way in a calming gesture.
“I’ve nothing to tell you, brack. Other than if you move any closer, you’ll die.”
“I don’t want any more deaths.” Radax stopped a few feet away from us. “I want to make a deal.”
Zeph scoffed.
“I don’t deal with the likes of you.”
“It’d be to your benefit.” Radax’s dark eyes flicked my way. “I know that you need to leave here. And you want your woman to be safe.”
Breath hitched in my throat at his mentioning me. His words didn’t sound like a threat, but he was using me as a bargaining chip.
Zeph said nothing, this time. He just drew me closer.
“You can keep your freedom. Both of you.” Radax folded his massive arms across his chest. “In exchange for your silence. Yours and hers.” He tipped his chin my way.
“Silence?” I asked. “About the menagerie?”
“You’re not to speak to anyone about Madame Tan’s establishment,” Radax explained. “Or about anything you saw or heard there.”
“Is that it?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Is that the only condition?” Zeph shifted into a little more relaxed pose, though still keeping his arm fin between us and Radax.
“Yes.”
It sounded simple enough.
Speaking to absolutely no one wouldn’t work for us, though. Zeph might need to tell Lero what happened, and I wanted a chance to explain some of this to Fleur one day.
On the other hand, we had already decided not to speak of the Fae with the authorities.
“I promise not to talk with the police or the media about Madame Tan and her freakshow,” I said to Radax. “In exchange for our freedom. You’ll have to stop hunting us.”
“A human promise means nothing without the camyte,” he scoffed, moving his stare to Zeph. “Water Fae are quick to lie, but they tend to keep their promises. I’ll take yours if you make it for both of you.”
Zeph widened his stance.
“I’m making Ivy’s promise on behalf of both of us,” he said to Radax. “No media, no police.”
The brack nodded, visibly satisfied. “If your woman breaks your promise, you will pay for it.”
That definitely sounded like a threat, one that Radax was hardly in the position to make. Hadn’t Zeph just annihilated the bracks’ attempt to re-capture him? In a very dramatic demonstration of his power, I would say.
“Why would he have to pay instead of me?” I demanded from Radax.
“That’s how it works,” Zeph calmly explained for him. “I promised for both of us. If either of us speaks, I’ll pay for it.”
I wondered how Radax knew that the possibility of any harm coming to Zeph would bind me more than any promise. Was it even possible for a brack to understand the idea of caring for someone other than himself?
“Zeph,” I said somberly. “Radax wouldn’t take my promise, but I will give it to you. I swear I will not break my word.”
“I know.” He flashed me one of his easy, beautiful smiles, looking more like the Zeph I knew and loved, not the terrifying Fae who wielded his power over water, using it as his servant and his weapon just moments ago.
Moving his heavy stare from Zeph to me then back to Zeph again, Radax unfolded his arms.
“We’re done here, then.” He took a step back in the direction of the parking lot. “You’re free. My people will not pursue either one of you any longer.”
“If I ever see you again,” Zeph’s tone was light and melodious, which oddly only added gravity to his threat, “I’ll kill you and everyone who comes with you.”
Chapter 28
ZEPH
It was early morning when he reached the shore of France in Le Havre. He waited until the shops opened then bought some clothes with the money Ivy had given him.
Back in Canada, he had walked her to the car and watched her drive away before leaving for France himself. She should be safe now, especially after the deal he had made with Radax. Not that he would ever stop worrying about her every moment he was away from her.
From Le Havre, he took the train to Paris. Ivy had written down the address of Le Loup Solitaire for him, but as soon as he turned into Boulevard de Clichy, he didn’t need to reference it to find the place. As if on their own, his feet carried him to the black door with the red glowing sign