Page 99 of Escape from the Green

"Then what would you call it?"

"Stacking the cards in my favor. I don't do things out of kindness. I don't know how many times I need to reiterate that to you before you will believe it. I am out for myself. No one else."

I didn't believe him.

I would never tell him that, of course, but I didn't believe a word he said. Or, at least, I didn't believe they were all there was. Because, yes, I absolutely believed he could be backhanded and selfish, power-hungry and cunning. But I think there was some goodness there. Underneath it all.

Because he could have simply gone along with his father's plan. And killed me.

He didn't have to give me my freedom.

Twice.

He didn't have to bring me to his rooms, offer me a bath I desperately wanted even if it was humiliating for him to point out that I needed one.

I had a feeling there was a sliver of humanity in Jet, something Cass was wholly devoid of these days, it seemed.

Maybe he didn't want to see it in himself, would consider it a weakness, a soft spot to be pressed, a shortcoming to be exploited.

But I thought it was there underneath the coldness, the guards.

And, really, could one even blame him for being that way? When he was raised by a madman in a court of monsters?

"Fine," I said, keeping my opinions to myself. "Then what is your plan here?" I asked instead.

"I wish I had a solid answer for you. Cass has been wild and unpredictable. Intent, it seems, on an uprising. Holding court, he riles the Dark realm, feeding their blood thirst. Another Great War may be inevitable, I'm afraid. With or without you as a piece to play. I don't think the Light would be prepared for war, so used to relative peace. Cass could likely get Cece with very little fight."

"Which makes me useless."

"Precisely."

"Then why bother bringing me up here? Why not just let me rot?"

"I was thinking maybe you could learn to play a part as well. Take that hostility you think you aren't wearing on your sleeve, bury it."

"And what? Play the doting fiancé?"

"Cass likes compliance. He might see it as a chance to get Cece and Jasper here without a fight. To check on you. To make sure your decision isn't being made under duress. They'd come with a guard escort, of course. But My father's loyal numbers are substantial. And they're riled. They could take down a royal guard."

"But you don't want Cece to get here."

"No, I do not."

"Then..."

"You have friends, I gather," he cut me off. "Those three other scents in the apartment. A Salamander fae, I am sure one is. Another, just some low fae. And a third none of us could decipher. But they are how you managed to hide, yes?"

"Yes," I agreed, swallowing hard.

"Then they could get a message to our siblings about this being a trap."

"But then... what about me?"

"You overpower your guard and escape."

A snort burst from me. "Overpower my guard?" I scoffed. "Have you seen me?"

I shouldn't have said that.