Page 38 of Death of a Mortal

“I tell you what, if you can control that tongue, I will get you both jobs in the castle. There, you’ll have an entire staff of mortals you can ask, who would likely be more willing to talk if they know anything. Good?”

“Why would you help us?”

“Naci, just take the nice male’s offer. What are you doing?” Nella whispered.

Shit. She’d used my name.

“Naci. What a unique name for such a unique girl. Why would I help? You’re in need, and admittedly, you’ve intrigued me. I don’t make habits of befriending mortals, but you’re not like other mortals. You’ve got…a spark. I like it.”

“And how is it that you can get us jobs in the castle?”

“I have some sway. I know some of the right people. You’ll come in with me as my new servants, and I will suggest that you join the staff as, what would you prefer, cooks? Maids? Launders? The laundry ladies are gossips; might I suggest that if you’re indeed looking for answers.”

I couldn’t make sense of why he was trying to help us. But maybe all fae weren’t bad. I thought of the half-fae in Briarstead.

Or maybe it was a trap.

“You have sway…” I took a moment to think it over. Staying at the castle sounded preferable to the roof we’d been on, and what he said about talking to mortals at the castle made sense. And while it might not have been wise to trust a fae stranger, something about him made me…believe him. The wordservantgave me pause, though.

“Are the servants at the castle prisoners?”

There was that smile of his again. “No, Naci, not prisoners.”

I loved the way he said my name.

“You’ll be fed, you’ll have a bed to sleep in. And you may find the answers you seek.”

I looked at Nella. This felt like the right thing to do. Getting a bed and consistent food for her was worth the risk, so long as it wasn’t her I was risking.

She shrugged—her face said she didn’t trust the male, but the choice was mine.

I took a deep breath. “How do I know you’re not lying. That as soon as we get there you won’t, I dunno, lock us up or something?”

He paused his pacing. “You don’t know that I’m not lying. ButIknow that, if you stay here, parading as Haskin’s servants, you will get caught. Hewillhurt you and likely kill you to set an example for the rest of his mortals. You chose quite the name to give that blacksmith, and everyone else for that matter. A real temper Haskin’s got.”

I didn’t know which made me more uneasy. That he knew our every movement, it seemed, or that using Haskin’s name had put a terrifying target on our backs.

Risk the castle, or risk Haskin…

“Fine, but we only go with you under one condition—she and I stay together, no matter what.”

He laughed again, the rumbling sound making my stomach flutter. “Such a spark. Don’t lose it, Naci.”

I just prayed that the flutter wasn’t a warning.

* * *

Following behind thestranger, we passed all the familiar shops and walked into an area of town we hadn’t yet ventured. The shops were fewer, and the homes were much larger. Far fewer people, fae or mortal, walked the streets here.

The shock of his appearance had finally worn off, and I took in his fitted black pants—which hinted at incredibly muscular thighs—and his loose gray shirt. He was uncommonly attractive.

“Will you tell us your name now?” I asked.

“This is where the nobles live,” the male said, ignoring me altogether while gesturing toward the immaculate stone and marble houses along the road we walked.

“Are you a noble?” Nella said, speaking for the first time since the roof.

“Me? Definitely not,” he chuckled. “Too stuffy. Too many rules. And the clothes look so uncomfortable.”