here,” Ivy announced as she came from the hallway. She’d spent a lot of time in bed and away from me at Finn’s demand. Apparently, I wasn’t good for her health.
Finn opened the door, and I followed him out. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d let him hear what happened before me.
They shook hands, and Maddox nodded to me. “I don’t know what you used, but that whole area stunk like death.”
“Are people dying?” Finn snarled and glared at me.
Maddox grinned. “No, but they certainly wish they were. They’ve got bodily fluids coming out both holes, and a lot of it is being dumped on the castle gates. They’re demanding he find someone to heal them, but the king killed nearly all of the healers when he was sick, and the rest fled except for Ivy.”
This was working even better than I thought.
“Did you see the king?” I asked.
He nodded. “I was asked to take the crates around the back side of the island so that they could be taken directly into the castle. Apparently, the king didn’t want to share the goods I brought, and clean food hasn’t been brought in for the people yet. Don’t worry, though. I made sure to mention that to a few of the people I passed by before leaving.”
“How did King Zephyr look when you saw him?” I needed to know that phase one had caused more than just trouble for him with his people.
Maddox shrugged. “He’s old as dirt. He looked tired, but there was a bit of crazy in his eyes. He wouldn’t let anyone in his room. Not even his guards. Instead, he came and inspected the food I’d brought and pushed it in himself.”
“Good. That’s very good,” I muttered, wishing I could have seen it for myself.
“You’re welcome for putting my life at risk for your curiosity,” he added sarcastically when I checked out of the conversation mentally.
I waved my hand in the air and continued with my own thoughts as I considered when and how to make my next move. The king’s foundation was weakened. I couldn’t let him find a way to reinforce it before I acted again.
“If you tell me how thankful you are, I’ll tell you what else I heard,” Maddox teased, and my attention was back on him.
“What did you hear?” I demanded.
He shook his finger in my face. “I don’t think so. If I’m going to help you, you’re going to treat me equally and quit staring at me like you’d have no problem with killing me where I stand.”
Well, if he wanted to be frank…
“Prove to me I can trust you and maybe I’ll throw you a rope, but I don’t know you and you like to disappear to your ‘farm’ more than I think is necessary if you have other fae working the lands, which you should if you’re any good at what you do. How am I to know I didn’t kill one of your family members when I was last here and you’re just biding time until you can exact your revenge? I’m fully aware I have unknown enemies all over these lands.”
Maddox considered my words, and I caught Finn staring at me. There was something different about the glint in his silver eyes, as if something between us was slowly changing. At least on his end. Though, I didn’t know what it was, nor did I want to. I reminded myself to remain on task once again, and I’d keep doing so until the thought stuck.
“Your reasoning makes sense, but still, if you want my continued help, you’re going to have to do something for me,” Maddox finally replied.
I raised a brow. “Well, I already promised to kill King Zephyr. What else is there?”
“I want you to send Neva back to Earth to find someone to heal Ivy. You don’t need her here.”
Maddox was right that I didn’t exactly need her, but it was nice to have her around. Then, I wondered if there was a reason that he was trying to get me all on my own without any help. I trusted Neva. She was the only supernatural I probably ever had. I wasn’t sure I wanted to send her away.
“There is no negotiating here, Lucinda. You either do this or you’ll never get the chance to see the king’s death through,” Maddox added when I didn’t respond.
I glanced at Finn, but he didn’t say anything. I didn’t necessarily need their help to accomplish my task,