I nodded.
Driscoll’s brows furrowed. “Or she could be even worse, some bloodthirsty killer or something. You have to find out more information from her. Or one of us could go down there and talk to her.”
That would make it easier, but I wasn’t sure I trusted Leoni or Driscoll just yet. They could use this woman to ruin my own plan of killing Spirit Shadow. They could use her to steal the bolt and escape. If she had the power to even help them do such a thing. Either way, I wanted to do this myself.
My companions spoke like we were a team, but we weren’t. I worked alone. I always had.
I gave a firm shake of my head.“I’ll go back down there and find out more. I think it helps that I don’t speak. She’smore open to talking, to revealing parts of herself with no expectation of me doing the same.”
“I suppose,” Leoni said, but she didn’t sound convinced.
“So tell me more about Spirit Shadow.” Driscoll propped his head in his hand. “You’ve seen him three times now. You’ve talked to him. What’s he like?”
“Annoying,”I signed.
Driscoll rolled his eyes. “Why does everyone suck the fun out of everything? I just want some good gossip. We are in the literal presence of a shadow daddy. The least you can do is give me the goods.”
I looked at Leoni.“Shadow daddy?”I mouthed.
She waved a hand at him. “He likes to come up with nicknames for gorgeous, powerful men.”
I cleared my throat.“How do you know Spirit Shadow is gorgeous?”
I thought of when I’d entered his dreams for the first time, when I’d lit the hallway and his shadows had hid behind him, his entire body and face exposed for a moment. He was beautiful with his strong jaw, straight nose, thick black hair. But I would not be admitting that to Driscoll. If I did, I had a feeling he’d never shut up about it.
Leoni translated my question to Driscoll, who just smirked. “Oh Bellamy. Sweet, naive Bellamy. I know when a man is hot. Or a spirit. They have a certain swagger about them. From what I’ve seen of Spirit Shadow, he’s got the swagger.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know,” I lied.“I’m not trying to flirt with him. I’m trying to kill him.”
Leoni cleared her throat before translating.
“Are we sure we want to kill him?” Driscoll asking, eyes darting to the pixies, then back to us. “It seems like he might not be all that bad. At least based on what Goji’s saying. We still don’t know why he’s getting those weapons.”
“It’s going to take time to unravel all of this,” Leoni said. “And it’s clear he’s suspicious of Bellamy, of her powers. That’s the only reason he’s letting us stay. He’s not going to open up easily, not unless...”
Both she and Driscoll looked at me expectantly.
“What?”I signed.
“Maybe you could charm him,” Leoni suggested.
Driscoll barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry.” He wiped a fake tear from his eye. “It’s just Bellamy and charming in the same sentence? You have to admit, that’s kind of funny.”
I made a face at him but thought over Leoni’s words. Driscoll was right. No one had ever described me as charming. Scary? Rough around the edges? Abrasive? Yes, yes, and yes.
Not ever charming.
And I didn’t want to be charming. Kairoth was responsible for the death of my people, the destruction of my home. He was the reason I had to grow up in the Wilds. He was the reason my mother became a monster. Maybe not directly. But his actions had caused a ripple effect. Not only that, but he also destroyed his own court, killed his own people.
Maybe he didn’t act evil, but he was a monster, and I had no interest in trying to charm the truth out of him.
I shook my head.“I’ll find the truth my own way.”
Wesley now hopped off the piano bench, singing as Jerome took over playing. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught shadows flying through the air, Kairoth following them.
I squinted. Not just a few shadows, but an entire army of them.
“Well if you’re not going to put on the charm, let me.” Driscoll shrugged. “I’ll charm Shadow Daddy.”
