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"You honestly believe everyone in your city is under your protection?"

In vaht h trouble keeping three huic didn’t have the same rule At least as far as I knew

"I believe anyone I didn’t protect is so each other, but I thought I’d protected theirl who died And for that, I want the one who killed her"

"You have a cunning mind, my dear"

"With due respect, every tie whatever it is about htfully "I admire your honesty, you know"

"Because I’ your ass like everyone else?"

"Yes" He dropped his hands, and a shudder rockedevery inch of my exposed skin e He was on the other side of the ritted nore the sensations

"Do you usually molest the people you admire?"

"Depends on how much they test ht challengeto bat away the invisible fingers touching e you I have no aspirations for another throne"

"Oh no? Is there not always a need for more pohen you’ve had a taste?"

"The only power I want is et it back"

"Ah, well, there’s the probleet?"

I didn’t like where he was angling this conversation One of est fears in this plan had been ould happen if Aubrey decided he was getting the short end of the stick Sure, technically he owed me because of the broken promise, but a fairy was a fairy If they could find a way to stay within the boundaries of their rules and still co to detere it, and I didn’t see an easy way to win this

"You broke a proive you the fae I have no interest in protecting someone ould willfully disobey me It’s whether or not I will restore your powers that is the question"

"I gave youher back"

"Direct exchanges are so…"

"Boring?"

He snapped his fingers, and instantly the phanto"

"Doesn’t fairness factor in at all?"

"Rarely"

"You guys are old-fashioned… How about I pro I couldn’t have children onceto offer

"An interesting offer, but we both know your woood"

It madehi else invery siree to your terms…I want you to say, Thank you, Aubrey"

I froze, unable to move or breathe When I was finally able to form words, I whispered, "You want me to be in your debt"

"For whatever and whenever I see fit to ask for, yes"

I wanted to say no Desperately I wanted to scream at him, to smash all the ive in to his request, I would be dead soon anyway What good would it do ht happen at soood on this hypothetical favor Aubrey would live thousands of years longer than me, and time was different for the fae A feeeks for hiood and dead before he thought to call on me for his request

That didn’telse you’d consider?"

"No I want your gratitude"

"And if I say thank you, you’ll give me the fae and restore my powers towill be set right"

I was one hundred percent sure I would live to regret this "Okay I agree" I took a deep breath "Thank you, Aubrey"

His shastly I knew this decision was going to hauntto be a shadow of uncertainty that followed , Miss McQueen"

"Yes?"

"This is going to hurt Fantastically"

"I don’t--"