Page 19 of The Fae’s Treasure

Saz is smart. And her curse runs deep.

Chapter Seven: Bargains

I pace. Deanna sleeps.

Rory stays in my arms, also sleeping, content with the slow, unceasing steps of my boots.

“Changeling law must have been activated. I don’t think it’s Saz, not wholly.”

“Not holy at all,” I mumble.

“No, not that. With a W. That sort of wholly.” Bonwit moves the puppy and puts a river rock green couch under a golden lamp. He found a banshee this morning, and she owns a shop that sells everything from books and clothing to furnishings. She’s giving us a discount, and Bonwit is simply winking her inventory into our house to make it look like a human dwelling.

“What, then?”

“Saz made a bargain with you, and that bargain included finding the boy and taking him home, yes?” he asks, a snap of his fingers putting two tan pillows and a blanket neatly on the couch.

“Yes and no. If I gave her part of my soul, I’d be able to find my son. She never said explicitly I’d be able to bring him home. What’s more, I was barred from the house she left Rory at. Of course, I never said I’d explicitly give her half of my soul, and I traded information for half a biscuit.”

“Well, my skills in the kitchen are worth a faeling’s ransom,” Bonwit preens, and a shelf appears, empty. “We need books.”

“I don’t know if we need books,” I grumble. “I don’t know if we will be there all that long. Go on.”

“It was implied that you’d be able to find the boy, and what good is finding him if you can’t bring him with you?”

“Maybe that was her play for the other half. Deals with demons are just as savage as deals with fae. Some fae,” I remark, gathering Deanna in my free arm, hauling her body over my shoulder, and then plopping her onto the couch. “That’s better,” I sigh.

And it does look better. Out of curiosity, I place Rory in the crook of her arm, and she instantly pulls him close, even in her sleep. Rory’s little body trembles as if he’s struck in a stretch, and then relaxes.

My curiosity is satisfied. It isn’t the beautiful sight I’m used to, but then again, beauty was never anything but nature, or sexual. Somehow... This is a new kind of beauty, mother and child, peace and sleep. Safe under my watch.

I can barely drag my eyes away from the sight, even though Bonwit is tugging urgently on my sleeve.

“Saz doesn’t know as much about fae as she thinks, or she’d never have made such a deal—and she never would have left a fae babe in the mortal world with a human mother. Changeling law applies. The child is claimed and can’t be returned, not to his mother. Perhaps not at all. Not unless some new bargain is struck.” Bonwit looks at me. “How in the world are you going to pry those two apart? She’s a lioness, and that is her cub. She’ll literally fight to the death for him. My death, very bloody nearly.”

“Yes.” A little smile quirks up one corner of my lips, even though it shouldn’t. It is very endearing to see how Deanna, the beautiful, fierce Deanna, guards my son.

“A new bargain must be struck—and I cannot think of anything that will take the place of a mother’s love.” Bonwit collapses into a small black chair that conveniently blinks into existence just before his rear hits the seat.

“I might know of something,” I muse. “But you’ll need to make yourself scarce until I call you back.”

“Oh, Dair... What are you thinking of doing?” he groans.

“Romancing her. There are great tales of women moving heaven and earth for the men they love.”

“Yes, because those men were worthy of it and would have moved the same mountains for their women.”

“I’ve never had a single complaint," I wink, and it’s true. I prided myself on being able to satisfy a succubus, a sexual expert—and everyone else who I took to my bed before her.

Bonwit rolls his eyes. “Yes, as a lover, not a man in love. You cannot break her heart; you gave your word not to hurt her.”

Damn it.

“Have you ever thought of telling her the truth?” Bonwit asks.

“I have seen firsthand that the truth isn’t stronger than love.” I look at my boy, sleeping, snuggled so safely. Deanna would be a better ally than an enemy. “I might consider it. Still, go and see what you can learn about Saz and this ‘peak of power.’ What is it? What does she want? How can we stop it?”

Bonwit rises, muttering about being an errand boy. “Should I go looking in this realm or ours?”