Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,22

she would drop her daughter off with random humans to become no one only for me to end up tougher than I would have been if given to Geiger. I had no proof of that, and I’d said enough against her with what I knew.

I didn’t think I was wrong though. If she had the power of foresight, she had to know more about Neldor than he would think. She couldn’t have been blind to him wanting to take over if she knew to protect all fairies from his mother’s evil.

And if Geiger had raised me to be a perfect royal princess… Could I have stood up to Neldor as I needed to now? I really wasn’t sure.

“I want your word of honor as a fairy and royal that you will cease this plan immediately or I tell the dogs to burn you,” I told him instead.

He couldn’t hide his shock. “Just this one? Wait—which one?”

I sighed, breaking his legs again when I felt them healed. “You are not going to sow distrust and dissent. You will not lie to our people, Neldor. That is what you are swearing. I was not poisoned by humans. I do care about them all. You know this. You don’t agree with me on everything? Fine. But no more lies! No more fighting! We have bigger fucking problems so start fucking listening!”

“I agree,” Larson muttered. “You’ll get all of the fairies killed if they don’t listen to her, who has been living in this world while you have all been frozen. They have to trust her enough to at least value her wisdom on this as they won’t other supes. Fight about the rest and who rules later, but survive this part or you will get her killed.”

“And then you can’t take her over and own her, and Faerie won’t let you rule without an heir at your side,” White mocked.

Oh, that was interesting to know.

Even more interesting? I got the answer to Craftsman’s question from Neldor’s mind when the pain made him fuzzy.

And insight as to just how selfish the Prince of Darkness truly was.

Horror filled his gaze as he realized what I’d heard.

“You would paint me the selfish one that I would free Cluym because I only care about Geiger, but you would let them all stay frozen longer—not caring how much longer—if it means keeping me vulnerable to your getting me under your thumb? And yet, you know the truth that I would bleed for all of them, but I simply won’t kill myself again after what I got was you.”

My magic shattered several of his large core bones the way it did metal when upset without my even making the conscious decision, and I didn’t feel bad about it.

At.

All.

5

I was fairly impressed he didn’t pass out in pain, but before I could push him anymore, I heard several thoughts from the pack. “No, he didn’t lie to you. He didn’t hurt me and did help last night, so you can’t burn him for that.” I nodded when I caught more. “But yes, he is a threat to me and my safety. I can’t even argue that.”

“He did lie to me,” Zack growled.

I bobbed my head around. “Yes and no. Any kick in the ass and motivation is a form of manipulation.” I raised an eyebrow at Neldor, daring him to even try to deny it. “I think you’ve pushed everyone too far thinking you’re so much smarter. Maybe it’s time to swear what I want you to.”

“Just that?” he checked, ignoring when others growled.

“No, that you’re done fucking with her and you won’t try to—” Lucca interjected.

I shot out a barrier at him without even breaking my staring competition with Neldor. “I’ll get to you, bear. You don’t fucking answer for me.” I nodded at Neldor. “Yes, only that, as I’m fair. I’m asking you to swear to me you will play fair and put our people first—our survival first, and stop with this sort of shit. We’ll handle the rest later, but I’m not going to threaten your life that you stop being an asshole.”

Which was more than he would do if the positions were flipped.

Well, probably. I hoped he had more integrity than that.

Mostly likely. He seemed steamed when he saw the accusations in my gaze.

“I swear it,” he bit out. “You have my true and heartfelt vow.”

I stepped off of him. “Good. I’m glad to—”

“Which is easy for me to give as I hadn’t decided for sure