I could allow that.
It would not only win over her acquiescence, but it would also grant me an opportunity to learn more about her mates and their relationships with Aflora.
I nodded slowly, deciding on a path forward that would work for both of us. “All right. You can dream-walk with them. But you can’t mention the Blood Gala. And I will be there to supervise.”
She frowned. “That’s hardly proving you’re trustworthy.”
“Trust works both ways, Aflora,” I replied. “You show me that I can trust you, while I show you that you can trust me. Seems like a reasonable compromise to me.”
“You want to kill Kols.”
I wasn’t going to lie to her. “I do.”
“You can’t do that in the dreams.”
“Actually, I could,” I told her, briefly considering the possibility. “But I won’t.” It would be horribly dissatisfying. And… “I won’t use you to hurt your mates. That’s not who I am.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Who you are?” She huffed a humorless laugh. “You attacked an academy filled with students, and the village. I’m pretty sure I know who you are by those actions alone.”
“I vacated the Death Blood building before I cast a harmless spell that I knew would be fixed in a matter of hours. And I didn’t attack the village,” I corrected. “So, by your definition, you don’t know me at all.”
“You didn’t attack the village?” Her brow furrowed. “But I felt your energy all over the street.”
“The day you and Zephyrus went to visit?” Now it was my turn to release a laugh. “Star, what you sensed was my protection.”
“I heard you laugh.”
“Yeah, I found it endearing that you thought you could fight me,” I admitted. “Similar to the episode a few hours ago.”
She scowled, making my lips quirk upward.
When her eyes narrowed, I took pity on her and offered a more thorough explanation.
“The Elders attacked some known Quandary Blood supporters in the village, which is why the essence surrounding the crime was Elite Blood in nature. Then they left an enchanted gift behind, one meant for Quandary Bloods. You felt me protecting you against that spell. And I was amused because you were trying to fight my protection.” I smoothed out her frown lines with my thumb. “I didn’t attack the village, Aflora. Anrika is an old family friend.”
“Anrika? The tavern owner?”
“The very one.” I didn’t know her as well as my father did, but she was a longtime supporter of our cause.
Aflora’s full lips parted, drawing my focus to her mouth. “She said she knew about me… from an old friend.”
“That’d be Zenaida,” I murmured. “Shade’s grandmother. They knew about our bonding, and Anrika actually knew your parents as well. She and Zurik, her mate, were the ones who helped my father and me escape. Only, the Elders discovered their actions, and, well, Zurik paid the ultimate price.”
I swallowed, recalling the scene vividly. It was my first real exposure to the cruelty of the Midnight Fae Elders, and the council who bowed to their every whim.
“Zurik told the Elders that he forced Anrika to help him. They made her prove it somehow. I don’t know the details, but it surrounded his death. I think they made her do it.”
“That’s horrible,” Aflora breathed.
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” I said, giving her a squeeze. “Constantine Nacht favors the death penalty. In fact, I dare say he enjoys it. Why else would he insist on an annual gala that celebrates the extermination of an entire race of fae?”
Which beautifully brought us back to the topic at hand.
“All I want is a chance to show you why I am who I am, Aflora,” I added softly. “I could force you. But I would prefer your willing participation.”
“You criticize Constantine for favoring the death penalty, yet your intentio
n is to kill his entire family,” she replied. “Do you not see the fatal error in that thought process?”