You sure?
No, but I think we have to.
I agree. But I couldn’t believe I was doing this. “Yes.” I put my hand in his, and a power cracked through my body and I jerked back. My vision was filled with dots and I tried to blink them away.
“Good. I’ll get the vial from you tonight and then I can make the bond. Sound good?”
“Sure,” I said as when I could see again.
Eli rubbed his hands together, and I could almost see his excitement bubbling out of him. “Now, where do you stand with the fey? Have you found ones willing to join in on the fun yet?”
I shrugged. “Not exactly, but I trust Cosette—”
“Trusting a fey? Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Uh… Yes?” Cosette was my friend and I knew she’d come through.
“Hmm.” He crossed his arms as he stared at me, and I started to wonder what was going through his mind. “Why don’t you send her a message? Remind her that we’re waiting.”
I looked at Dastien, who gave me one of his gallic shrugs. “I can email her I guess, but she hasn’t been answering them.”
“Email her again. Mention that I’m here waiting, too. Use my full name. E-l-i-l-a-i-o-s.”
“Fine.” I pulled out my cell phone and typed a quick message. “Okay. Sent. But sometimes she doesn’t check it for a while and it could be that—”
The field lit up, and suddenly Cosette was standing between me and Eli, and she hadn’t come alone. Van stood next to her, and there were at least fifteen warriors standing around the field, all dressed like Van. Their long hair braided away from their faces.
“You!” She spat the word, poking him in the chest.
Eli grinned. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I stepped back from them, not wanting to get in the middle of whatever was about to happen.
“Don’t you dare hey, sweetheart me! I’m not your sweetheart. And no! For the last time, I’m not helping you! You nearly got me killed last time!”
Any ideas as to what the hell is going on? Dastien asked me.
How should I know? Cosette was still mostly a mystery to me. I got a little insight into her here and there, but she wasn’t one to just open up and spill her history. But I had a ton of questions for her about Eli now.
“Did you plan this?” Cosette asked. “Is this whole fight with Astaroth one of your little games? One of those let’s-fuck-with-the-mortals games that you love so much?”
What? It felt as if all the blood were draining from my body. Cosette had to be joking.
He laughed. “No. But I like that you think this is my plan. Even I wouldn’t do something this terrible, sweetheart.”
Oh, thank God.
Cosette flicked her hand and a sword appeared in it. “How can I trust you after what you did to me?”
For the first time, Eli didn’t look confident. “Come on. You can’t still hold that against me.”
The sword started glowing with flames and I took a few steps back. “Of course I do,” Cosette said.
Ten more fey popped into the clearing, and I started to wonder who would win if there was a fight between Eli and the fey.
I had no idea what the subtext was or how Cosette even knew Eli, but the fact was, we needed both of them to complete the spell. Game or not, I had to get rid of Astaroth. If I let them fight, then we could kiss the spell goodbye.
“Cosette?” I said. “What’s going on?”