I turned around and gave him my full attention. “And what request is that?”
“I am offering you the best deal in the house. The gift that keeps on giving. I know the ins and outs of Mavriel, better than anyone you could find in that crowded hut you call a home. If you help me find the Grimoire, then I can give you what you need, Jezz.”
My chest jumped, tingles trailing down my fingertips. “Yeah? And how the hell are you going to do that?”
“I have my ways.” He smiled. “After all, she is my younger sister.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Did I hear that right?
Did this sleaze seriously say that he was related to Jezz?
“Jezz is your sister? Your actual sister?”
He smirked. “I know. The resemblance is uncanny!”
“But Jezz told me she was an only child. Not only that, you’re a human.”
“Really?” He snapped his finger and his human disguise melted off like magic. Immediately, I dashed into him and snatched his collar, realizing a fae having had infiltrated in our secret underground camp!
I knew there was something sketchy about him, and I was right!
He croaked, raising his hands in the air again defensively. I got in his face, my serious tone grating down his smug smile. “Tell me why I shouldn’t gun you down right now!”
“Allow me to explain!”
“Are you the spy?!”
“Heavens, no!”
“Then why the hell are you hiding in Prism Point?!”
“For my safety!” He defended. “That I did not lie about. I am hiding for my safety. Trust, I am no threat to the human race, and if you may unhand me, I would love to explain my purpose in your humble abode.”
“The last time I let you go, you fed me fucking lies! You must be a god damn idiot if you think I’d do it again!”
“Not to shoot down the credibility and capability of Thalian’s savior, mother’s hand chosen, but I am a few levels higher than you. Not only that, I am a fae…”
“Does this look like a face that gives two shits about titles?”
He smirked. “And that mentality is precisely why you need me. That pride of yours, or bravery, whatever you want to call it, it doesn’t fly by in the land of spells and curses…”
I’d give him one thing, he hadn’t struck me down once, and he was more than capable of doing so. So I gave him the benefit of the doubt, against everything I firmly believed in.
I let him go, the lying bastard brushing off his shoulders lightly before his scheming eyes met mine again. “Sir Silas, there is plenty you don’t know about my dear sister Jezzabell. And seeing as she didn’t bother to tell you she has family, well, I might not be wrong to assume she’d lied to you, too.”
“Family? She told me her folks were dead.”
He snickered. “I shouldn’t expect any less from that tiny rebellious girl. But, it is not my place to tell you. She should. When we find her.”
I glared at him. “I’m waiting for the part where you explain yourself and make the need for this charade make sense.”
“I have a bounty on my head,” he confessed. “In the land of the fae, everyone wants my head on a stick. I’ve acted upon crimes, some unmentionable and positively repulsive to those braggarts and pompous councilmen. So you must understand my unease in dishing out such details to you immediately. If I had, you’d refuse a partnership with me before taking another breath. I had hopes in telling you these lies that you’d allow me to join you on your quest.”
“Well shit, you’re a terrible liar.”
“I am well aware, and for that, I ask for your forgiveness in trying to deceive you, and consider these truthful words I am confiding in you now. How about we start over?” He offered me his hand sincerely. “My real name is Jerius, a level sixty fae. I am condemned to death for dabbling in forbidden magic exclusive to the high order of fae, and I am to be brought to the council, dead or alive.”
“So that’s the real reason why you’re hanging around humans…”
“Correct. I swear in all things arbitrary and arcane, I have not taken the life of a human, nor do I wish to. My strife isn’t with Senterra, but with Mavriel. So you see, I am on your side.”
“But I’m not trying to bring down Mavriel.”
“You will have to if your wish is gaining access to their ultimate power, which is the dungeon core’s crystal.”
“I’m not shaking your hand until you tell me how you can get to Jezz and what your ultimate goal in all of this is.”
“We are blood relatives. There is a spell in the Grimoire that will help me locate anyone who shares my blood, no matter where they may be. As for my personal gain, it is simple. Revenge. The Grimoire and its codex is property of the high order of fae. The reason I am in this tight little pickle is because my curious eyes gazed upon its ancient script. And for that reason alone, they deem I must die.” His eyes softened on me. “Knowledge is power, Silas. If you didn’t know, now you do. The more secrets of this world you discover, the stronger you will become. I believe the Grimoire should be destroyed, and anyone who doesn’t is simply trying to abuse power.”
“So you are trying to burn it to the ground?”
“All I want to do is break the very foundation of the council. Wouldn’t you say that they are powerful enough already?”
“And you can do that?”
“With your help, I believe anything is possible.” I shook his hand hesitantly. A part of me believed that he could honestly find Jezz. Given that and his experience with Mavriel, I’d be stupid not to take his offer. Despite my seesawing trust issues with him, he was exactly who I needed in my party.
