"What are you doing here, Tristan?" Brenon asked.
"Can't a father stop in to say hello to his only daughter?" he ruffled my hair, and I batted his hand away.
I smoothed out my hair. "Listen, I stood up for you because you helped me get away from Terra and because you're blood. It doesn't mean that I like you."
"Fine, I'm used to having less than a warm welcome. Reminds me of home, actually." He shrugged. "Listen, I want to take out that crazy sister of yours more than you can imagine. If you want to do that, you need me."
"He did help me escape," I said, looking at Evangeline.
"Because it must benefit him somehow. Like making you take his side now." Her eyes were still locked on Tristan as she spoke to me.
"You can't take her down without me," Tristan said. "We used to be friends once, remember, Eva?"
"Don't call me that," she said.
He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever you say. Just let me talk, if you don't want me to stay, I'll go. You know I always keep my word."
Evangeline was quiet for a moment, and both Brenon and I stood in silence next to her. There was a past between her and Tristan and whatever it was, it was enough to keep Brenon from interfering.
"Fine," Evangeline finally said. "But you step one toe out of line, and I'll show you just how much damage my claws can do."
Jasper, still in his wolf form growled from beside Evangeline.
"Got it." Tristan winked at her. "I like women with a little fire."
Evangeline rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."
"Let's take this inside," Brenon said. "Eva, I need you out here with the others. Give us a few minutes to talk to Tristan."
Brenon went up the steps back into the train car where we'd spent the last few days, followed by Tristan, then me. Once inside, Tristan and Brenon took the two folding chairs that had been brought in, and I sat on the bed, watching the interactions between the two of them.
They seemed familiar, like they knew each other well. I recalled the reference that I'd heard about Tristan and Terra and their romantic past. Had Brenon known Tristan back then, too? Was it possible they'd even been friends? There was a lot of history I didn't know about the Fae, and I wondered how much I should know.
"What are you doing here, Tristan?" Brenon asked.
"I told you, I want to help you. I assume that if you're finally taking the offensive, either you're ready to go home, or you know how close Terra is to getting that gate open." Tristan leaned back in the chair. Looking totally at ease in the tension-filled room. Maybe it was just me who was tense.
"What do you mean?" I wondered how close I'd been to guessing Terra's plans. "How will she open the gate?"
"Her original plan was to have my help. Now I'm pretty sure she'll come after me for my magic," Tristan said.
"Now I see why you're here," Brenon said. "You need to save your skin."
Tristan shrugged. "Why do you care as long as you get an ally out of it? You think she's going to stop chasing after Ara once she gets the gate open? Doesn't matter if Ara is needed anymore, now it's personal. You know how she gets."
Brenon glanced at me. "Yeah, I know how she gets."
"Besides," Tristan leaned forward, looking over at me. "Would it be so hard to believe that I don't want to see my daughter killed? Even if she wants nothing to do with me."
A pang of guilt echoed through me. At first, I'd considered finding Tristan, I'd wanted to talk to him, find out the truth, but once I had, I never considered forming a relationship with him. I'd been too worried about my survival. About my current relationships. I looked down at my hands, feeling like a kid caught it a lie.
"I can see that," Brenon said. "Say you are here to help us. What would you propose? How do we finish off my sister?"
"You have to break the curse," Tristan said.
I looked up at him, mouth open. We couldn't do that. It was far too dangerous. Hadn't everyone said so?
"No," Brenon said. "We've got a whole group of Fae and supernaturals waiting to help. As soon as the blue pills wear off, we can go after Terra."
"No time for that," Tristan said. "It has to happen now. You've got to break the curse."
"We can't do that. It's too dangerous. We don't know what it would do to Ara if we broke it. Plus, we don't know what form our magic will take."
"That's bullshit, Brenon and you know it. You've retained more magic than most of the Sayges. There's no way you won't get enough back to at least make you a threat. As for Ara, what does she have to do with it? She's not human." Tristan looked over at me.
Had he not heard the rumors about Brenon and me? I was surprised to feel a bit relieved. Everyone else we had met seemed to know all about the two of us even if there wasn't much to back it up.
"She can break it with magic, but it's too risky," Brenon said.
"I'd never suggest that," Tristan said. "The curse was cast by a Sayge who could channel magic from both sides. It would take something similar to break it with magic. Everyone knows that's insane."
"We can't break it," Brenon said.
"It's not a big deal. You break the curse, the Rose Circus gets magic, the gates open, it's one and done. Terra will come to the gate to find her way in, and we'll be waiting for her. It's the only way." Tristan looked pleased with himself. As if the whole thing would go down without a hitch.
"It's not that easy," Brenon said.
"Sure it is," Tristan said. "Go into the city, find some girl. Even looking like you do, I know you've still got it. I mean, back in the day you'd get a girl with just a look. Can't be that hard to find some pathetic human to hook up with."
My insides squirmed. Picturing Brenon with any other girl made me nauseous.
Brenon was looking down at the ground, shaking his head. "I can't."
My heart felt like someone was squeezing it. I didn't want Brenon to go after some other girl, but I didn't know if there was another way. Would it help if we break the curse?
"I'll find a girl for you if you're worried about the scars, I mean, I guess I could see some girls being scared away..."
"I won't," Brenon said. "I'm not going after some random girl."
"Brenon, it's the only way," Tristan raised his voice, he seemed to be getting annoyed with Brenon's refusal.
Brenon stood, glaring at Tristan. "I said no."
"Why the hell not?" Tristan was yelling now.
"Because I'm in love with your daughter."
Brenon's words hit me like I'd been splashed with cold water, breath momentary taken from me. I sat frozen in my chair staring at the man who had my heart.
As the world started moving again, Brenon walked away from us, pacing the room. I wanted to say something to him, to run to him, to tell him I felt the same way but I was too overwhelmed to speak.
Tristan turned to look at me. "Is this why you're helping them?"