I wonder if I’m going back into a cage. I guess, since I’ve been “bought”, they’re going to stay empty because the troll makes no move toward them. I steal a glance around the tent, looking for Morgan. Nope. It’s just the three of us.
The redcap strolls in a few minutes later, wearing a smile so sneaky, I’m immediately worried.
He zeroes in on the stranger, swooping his hand in front of him, gesturing to the wooden table and set of chairs near the entrance of the tent. “Get comfortable, my lord. Remove your cloak. Take a seat. There’s no need to rush.”
“For you, perhaps. I have places to be. Let’s finish this.”
The little faerie grins, showing a row of shark’s teeth in his crowded mouth. “I think you misunderstood me. Remove your cloak. Take a seat. Those weren’t requests.”
The stranger goes still. “You’re ordering me about?”
“Not at all. I’m just doing business like you asked. It strikes me… seven hundred gold coins for a human who wears the brand of a Blessed One. I got less than that the first time around when she was still untouched and five hundred coins was quite the price. But seven hundred… it makes one like me wonder if you have some nefarious purpose for the girl. After all, you are one of the Cursed Ones.”
The redcap could give two shits about my safety. Considering he’s just gloated how I earned him more than a thousand gold coins already, I know exactly what I look like to him. I’m the freaking golden goose. Of course he wants to make sure that the Unseelie doesn’t have sinister motives when it comes to me. If anything happens to me, there goes the chance that I’ll end up in his clutches for the third time.
“You have my word that she’ll be safe with me.” While keeping one hand noticeably on the hilt of his sword, he pulls out a leather satchel from beneath the recesses of his cloak. He tosses it onto the table next to the redcap, coins jingling before they hit the tabletop with a loud thud. “Seven hundred gold coins. Now give me my human.”
“Not so fast. Until I take the coins myself, she’s still mine.”
“Are you looking for more? Because I—”
“Not at all. A bargain is a bargain. You won the bid at seven hundred, and seven hundred the price shall be. But if you want me to accept your coin, you’ll do as I request, sir.” Another grin, even toothier. “Remove your cloak. I won’t do business if you won’t show me your face.”
When the stranger hesitates, the redcap strokes his swarthy chin. “Before I joined you in my tent, I had a quick conversation with Alston. Do you know him?” He doesn’t even wait for an answer before he continues, “He’s the squire for Lord Veron. Seems his transport to the Shadow Realm was… let’s say, delayed. He missed the bidding, but he promises to outbid any other for this particular human. What do you say? Should I tell him you are relinquishing the human? Or do you lower your hood?”
If it was bad enough, standing between the redcap and the mysterious fae while they haggled over me, it’s so much worse when I hear about Veron. I’ve already realized that, somehow, Veron lost out at the auction. That was the one good thing about this shitty situation. But to hear that I might just end up with him anyway?
I turn and look imploringly at the stranger. What is he hiding under that cloak? And is it so important that he’ll give me up to Veron to keep it covered?
After a moment that seems like an eternity, the stranger reaches up and flips his hood back.
I almost choke on my gasp.
It’s the scar I’m drawn to first. The lush mouth comes second, then the taunting look in his deep, golden eyes, but it’s the slash across his left cheek, crossing the bridge of his nose, reaching the edge of his lip that I see before the rest of him.
I… I know that face. And something tells me that this is real this time. That I’m not being tricked.
Rys.
It’s Rys.
But what the hell is he doing here?
In the back of my head, I hear the oozing, oily, salesman-like voice that belongs to the redcap. It was the same tone he used when he sold me to Veron’s vassal, and it’s even worse now that Rys just bid seven hundred gold coins to buy me from the auction block.
I don’t say anything. I can’t. I’m so shocked that he’s here—that it’s really him—that, for a few seconds, I’m stunned speechless.
“Ah, see, that wasn’t so hard. Forgive me for being suspicious, but I’ve had some trouble with this one. I can’t just give her away. I’m sure you understand.”
“Not as tame as you boasted, is she?”
“Tame enough, and even more so after she wears your brand.” He gestures at my hand. “I understand not wanting to touch her on the stage with the entire market as witness to the exchange. But how about now? She’s all yours.”
Avoiding my shocked expression, Rys gives a pointed look toward the bag of coins on the table.
The redcap takes the hint.
Rys visibly relaxes. I know why, too. As soon as the redcap took the coins, the contract was sealed. I belong to him.