The room was dark. Whispers flooded into my ears. My muscles tensed as my brain computed what was being discussed.
“Your highness,” said a low, gravelly voice. “Please come away. You cannot be here. I have this under control. I have done what you have asked.”
“You are a deceiver.” In spite of the harshness of her tone, the woman’s voice was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. “You had no intention of bringing the other one to me. I had to pretend to be a human to even get in here.” She spat the word human at him as if it were rotten meat.
My eyes finally adjusted to the moonlight streaming through the window. The two shadowy figures stood near the couch: the one shapely and tall, the other, squat and boxy. The woman that I could only guess was Ainessa lowered a dainty hand to the top of the troll’s balding head. Standing rigid as a statue, he wrung a hat between stubby fists. His beady eyes were trained on the ground.
A pale purple fire erupted from Ainessa’s fingers, coiling around his body in thick bands. He convulsed but did not look up. Even though he kept quiet, the set of his shoulders told me he was in severe pain.
“Gibbit, this is your last chance. See that she comes to me willingly. I need not remind you of the consequence should you fail.”
His feet shuffled as though he wished to bolt. “No, my la…your highness.”
She vanished without another word. The strange little creature started pacing the room. He seemed to trip on something and lowered toward the floor. He gazed at the round, shiny orb dispassionately.
I had missed one. I shot out of bed and was on him faster than he could stand up. “Give it to me!” My whisper was louder than I had intended. I took advantage of his surprise and snatched the morsel from his box-like hand.
His orange gaze rose to mine. He was exactly as Cassie had described him: short with rough lilac skin, sunken button nose, and thin lips that hid two rows of pointy white teeth. His scalp was nearly bald except for the white stripe of waist length hair that circled the bottom of his head. He stepped back a few paces, grabbed his hair with one fist and shoved it through a hole in his cap. It stood straight up. Had I not known better, I would have thought he had a full head of hair.
“No need to get physical,” he said, rubbing his hands together like an arthritic. “There’s more where that came from.”
I put the candy in my mouth. Nothing on earth could compare to the rich flavor or pleasing texture. “What does that woman want from me?”
He shuffled uneasily, letting out a low grumble. “I need a different job.”
I bent to my knees. His eyes were still a little lower than mine. “Please. I have to know what she wants. I need my journal back, too.”
His grin showed chipped, rotting teeth that were still plenty sharp to do some damage. “I’d be happy to trade what I have for something better.”
“You’ve already used that line on my best friend.” I took hold of his shirt collar. “I need her stuff back, as well.”
“Begging your pardon, miss, but that’s not how this works.” He wriggled slightly, testing my hold on him.
“I would rethink your resolve if I were you. All I have to do is tell the lord who is courting me that you are a problem. He will be here in a few minutes…” I let my words hang there for a while, hoping he would concede.
“What lord? Mistress didn’t tell me of no lords.” He looked me up and down. “What they want with the likes of you?”
I cocked my head. “And just what ‘likes’ would that be?”
His nose pulled inward with his breath. “I’m not trying to offend you, miss, but they don’t usually go after their own kind.”
I wrinkled my face at him. “You should get some glasses. I’m not fae.”
He gave me a serious once over. “Oh yeah, what are you then?”
I stiffened uncomfortably under his gaze. “An Elemental.”
His eyes flew wider. “Of course you’re an Elemental.” He laughed. “Why not? It’s not like I would know the difference.”