Curse of the Wolf King - Tessonja Odette Page 0,20
flourishing a hand at his scribe. “Emphasize the for now, part, will you?”
The fae nods and continues writing.
“If you want her back, I will accept…” He pauses, lips pursed as he squints. Rubbing his bearded jaw with one hand, he looks down at me with an arched brow. “What is your father’s wealth?”
“His wealth?” I echo.
He gives an exaggerated nod, his features laced with exasperation. “His annual salary, human.”
Annual salary. I narrow my eyes, calculating the sum of all this nonsense in my mind. “Are you…holding me for ransom?”
He furrows his brow. “Is that what it’s called?”
“Ransom, yes,” the female fae says, revealing a few sharp, crooked teeth. “I do believe that’s what it’s called.”
With this knowledge comes a steadying calm in the midst of my fear. It doesn’t take my terror away completely, but at least it gives me an edge. Ransom, I can work with. It’s all numbers and figures, things I know well. Taking a deep breath, I attempt to settle beneath my false persona. Having my hands tied behind my back makes that a little difficult, considering I can’t sit tall the way I normally do when feigning confidence, but at least I can school my features, ease my breathing, steady my voice.
“I hate to tell you this, but we have no money,” I say. “We’re poor. We can’t afford a ransom. You should let me go.”
He barks a laugh. “That’s a lie. Just look at that hideous dress of yours.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, but I swallow my indignation and don a mask of embarrassment instead. “It’s the nicest one I have. I…only wore it because I had an interview today. A job interview. When you found me, I was on my way to thirty-three Whitespruce—” My words dry on my lips as another calculation plays out in my mind. Damn. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. When I open them, I burn the alpha with my gaze. “Let me guess. This is thirty-three Whitespruce Lane, isn’t it?”
The burly fae smirks with pride but gives no reply.
“You tricked me to come here, didn’t you?”
“I like the term enticed,” he says.
My blood boils with rage, chest heaving, but I force my words to come out calm. “I thought fae couldn’t lie.” I’m testing the waters here. Can fae lie? Are the legends correct in that regard?
“I told no lie.”
The female fae nods, as if to confirm the validity of his statement.
I lift a brow. “You wrote a want ad seeking a house steward.”
The alpha shrugs. “I don’t have a house steward, so technically you could say I’m in want of one. Fae may not lie, but we excel at deception. Now, enough chit-chat. Tell me your father’s wealth.”
I grit my teeth, mind whirling to come up with a solution, one that sets me free and leaves my father out of this. I’m not entirely sure he’d come for me, no matter how much or how little I’m ransomed for. He may have regained his wealth, but would he dare spend it to rescue me from a situation such as this? One that I clearly got myself into while acting against his rules and demands? I don’t know how much time has passed since I’ve been gone, but Nina and Susan could already be telling him where I am and what I’ve done. He’s probably spinning into a rage as it is. If he learns I’ve not only gone to a job interview, but also been tricked and held for ransom…
“I lied,” I say, lifting my chin. “I am rich. But don’t take the money from my father, make a deal with me instead. If you let me go, I’ll give you twice as much as you’re planning on asking from him.”
He lets out a low chuckle. “I don’t want money.”
I blink a few times. “Then why the hell are you holding me for ransom?”
He clenches his jaw. “The ransom, stupid human, is a front. When he comes to do the trade, he’ll find you surrounded by brigands.” The other two fae nod excitedly. “Then I, a brave hero, will step in and defeat them, handing you off to your father unharmed.”
I stare blankly at their proud expressions. “Why?”
“He’ll be grateful. When he sees I’ve saved both his daughter and his fortune, he’ll be overwhelmed with gratitude. So much that he’ll be willing to sacrifice that which he holds dear. Of his own free will and volition, of course.”