When we entered, she pointedly did not look at Grey, which of course caused me to. He was staring at her with an intensity that would have caught a normal woman on fire. Ruby, however, had been born of fire.
I shook my head. This was just what we needed.
All eyes fell on me as I stepped to the head of the table. I threw the pendant down, the twisted strands landing with a clanging thump on the wood surface.
“Ice, silver, blood, and bone. Our gift.”
Chapter Fifteen
Gift
They stared at the pendant, the spike formed from four intertwined strands. There was no question in my mind whether the ice and silver were related to my attacks, especially since Veil had mentioned my safety. How they were related was another matter entirely. They were cold to the touch, while the blood and bone were warm, and further warning. A gift, our prisoner had insisted. Leave it to the fey to offer a puzzle instead of a clear message.
“It’s the same,” Ruby said, wide-eyed. She hadn’t had a chance to examine the pendant yet, to see the thin thread of ice, frozen solid even now.
“I suspected as much.” I glanced at Chevelle. “And the silver?”
“It appears so,” he answered, none too pleased with the revelation.
“The question remains,” I offered, “is this admission of their involvement, a threat of further attacks? Or is this truly a gift, answer to our search?”
Rider leaned forward. “Why would they admit their own involvement? Why not just fight with full force if that was what they wanted?”
“For that matter, why would they help you by handing you the enemy?” Ruby asked.
I noticed Chevelle tense the slightest bit beside me. Both questions could be answered by Veil’s interest in me.
“I don’t understand,” Rhys said, “why they would risk it at all.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “They’ve been doing it for ages, never mind that half of them are killed. They don’t consider it risk, just a good night out.”
“There’s something else,” Grey said evenly. We all took notice of his tone. “They didn’t offer a trade.” It was obvious what he meant. They had wanted Ruby.
The room was silent for a long moment before Anvil finally spoke up. “It means nothing. Veil would not soil his hands so publicly in such an arrangement. By coming, by his presentation, he has already placed himself on unstable ground.”
“About that,” I interjected, “this was the largest force I’ve seen for a very long time. There were no fire fairies.”
Anvil nodded. “Hard to say at this point, but I am hoping they support your choice.” He paused, considering. “That’s not to say they would not welcome her return, unwilling as it were.”
Steed graciously changed the subject. “As for the pendant, is the blood meant for death, or lineage?”
“That, as well as the bone, can be interpreted in many ways,” Anvil answered. “The fey are not easy to read. And they like it so.”
Rhys was outwardly disgusted and annoyed with his first fey experience. “Then this token is worthless.”
I shook my head. “No. Even if we don’t understand their motives, even if we never decipher their clues, it tells us one thing for certain. The two attacks were connected and the fey know how.”
“If this is a threat,” Steed shifted uncomfortably, “then no response is an act of battle in itself.”
Ruby nodded. “And Veil’s going to work up a good lather over your refusal.”
“And then they’ll be back.” Steed added. “In force.”
“No.” Chevelle’s voice was cutting. I wasn’t positive he’d meant to speak at all.
I sighed, needing to explain to the others but not wanting to voice the problem. But I had to. The fey loved a good war and if they could manage it, they’d be back soon enough. The group we’d dealt with had been nothing, merely along for the ride, toying with us over Ruby. A true raid would have left us more damage than a few scrapes and bruises.
“Some fey have the ability to manipulate the magic of others. A strike against them can be turned, distorted...” I shook my head. “Let’s just say it’s ugly. The problem now is, with my magic in such a volatile state, I would be risking not only myself, but the release of these powers to the fey.”
“To Veil,” Chevelle said.
There was a long pause while everyone in the room imagined the flying amber god with the combined energy of his own, myself, and all that Asher had amassed.
Ruby had gone pale. I decided to throw her a bone. “Finn and Keaton may be able to assist with this. They have brought us Rhys and Rider for a reason, and I believe their connection plays a part. When the wolves return, we may have one less problem to worry about.”