the table, pointing at me. With his other hand, he reached up and clasped the remote at his neck, eying me for a long moment before using it to deactivate my cuffs.
I gasped as magic rushed to my fingertips and the urge to use it spilled through me in a wave. Before I could, Cain's hand landed in mine and he drew my attention back to him.
"I swear to tell you the truth of this if you swear to keep this secret among people we can trust with it," he growled.
"I swear," I replied in agreement, the look in his eyes urging me to comply. Magic clapped between our palms as the deal was struck and in a blur of motion, he'd released me and switched my cuffs back on before taking his seat again.
I pouted at the fact that I hadn't been able to use my magic more than that, but as Cain started talking, I forgot about being annoyed.
"They're stealing people's Orders from them," he growled, glancing at the door even though it was locked and his silencing bubble still enveloped us. "They've figured out how to remove it surgically - though the whole process takes hours and is utter agony for the subject. A lot of Fae die from the shock of having it stolen though, which is what happened to your Mole friend."
"She had a name," I growled. "Sook was a good person."
"Well she's a dead person now. And by the sounds of it that's for the best. The Fae who survive the process live a shell of a life, half crazed, totally fucked up and left to rot in cages. So far they can't figure out how to place the Orders into someone else though. Their goal is clearly to figure out how to give Fae multiple Orders."
"But if that became possible...they'd start doing this more and more. Stealing Orders from Fae and selling them to rich stronzos who want to be something more powerful than they were born,” I gasped.
"There are plenty of rich, evil fuckers who will always want more than they've got in life no matter how much they already have. Just look at Lionel Acrux," Cain muttered but I just shook my head, not wanting to get distracted by talking about that evil bastardo.
"What can we do?" I breathed, leaning forward so that I was resting my arms on the table.
"I'll keep trying to get solid evidence that I can turn over to the FIB. In the meantime, just avoid anyone acting crazy. Like Eighty-Eight for example. You don't wanna get dragged down by association."
"What's the matter, boss man? You don't like me hanging around with the sexy Incubus?" I teased and Cain's jaw ticked.
"I'm just trying to give you some advice."
"Noted. So, are you going to tell me why you decided to open up to me about all of this?" I asked.
Cain clenched his jaw and rubbed at the wrist of his left arm where the curse mark I'd placed on him sat.
"I figured if I expect honesty from you then I could offer you the same," he gritted out.
I pursed my lips as I considered that then got to my feet, hopping up on the table and sliding over it before swinging my legs down on the other side and sitting in front of him.
"Let me see it," I said, placing my feet on the chair either side of his legs and holding my hand out for his arm.
"Why? Are you going to curse me again?" he asked icily and I smirked at him.
"Let me see and I'll give you something real," I said. "Giuro," I added in a low tone, painting a cross over my heart. I swear.
Cain's lip pulled back like he didn't really believe me, but he unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled it back to reveal his muscular forearm before presenting it to me all the same.
His skin was hot with the presence of his fire magic beneath his skin as I took his arm between my hands, turning it to inspect the curse mark which now extended up to his elbow and disappeared beneath the rolled sleeve of his black shirt.
"Maledizione della luna," I breathed as I reached out to run my fingers over the mark. His flesh shivered beneath my touch and the mark seemed to glow with that same ethereal shine that it had when I'd channelled my gift into creating it.
"What would it take for you to remove this curse from me?"