I barely caught myself before laughing. It was neither the time nor the place, but that little saying was unexpectedly funny. After all the confliction, it was a welcomed pivot.
“How will you stop him?” I asked, suddenly worried.
Aram didn’t say anything, but his amusement crawled across our bond. “You don’t become a god without having a few tricks, even against pixies, V.”
“You won’t hurt him?”
He grunted, clearly not happy about it. “I will not, but I will need to subdue him and the other pixies so they can’t try anything else. Not that they could do much after that ancient dusting.”
I stiffened and crossed my arms, noticing his eyes flitting to them when I did. “That’s the same as hurting him, Aram.”
“Temporarily. It’s a necessary evil. Pixies are incredibly good at escaping, even weakened, and I’d rather avoid the usual methods of subduing them. As soon as I’m confident in both us and our bond, I’ll release them. But only then.”
“So, more blackmail?”
His muscles rippled in agitation and his frustration bled across our connection. “Do you really think so little of me? Remember, V, it wasn’t me who attacked first.”
“But wasn’t it?” I countered angrily, glancing at Big. “You started all of this, Aram. You made a contract with me in exchange for not hurting the ones I love.”
His snarl wasn’t aimed at me. It was aimed at himself. “Because it was the only way! And it was a mistake. One I’m no doubt being punished for now.”
Acid burned my throat because I already knew he was only doing what he needed to do to honor his promise to me. I read it all in his thoughts and intentions. What he’d told me before was the truth; he couldn’t lie. So even if I couldn’t read his intentions, I’d know purely for that reason.
Aram really regretted what he did.
The massive god grunted and his wings fluttered. “I’ve given you my word to explain, and I will. I’ll end our contract after I have, and should you choose to leave...”
The naked Nether Royal snapped his fingers and a set of clothes appeared in his hand. He offered them to me, and I used my vampire speed to dress. I tried not to smile when his disappointment rang inside my head. He’d hoped I would do it slowly so he could watch. Even after being attacked, men couldn’t help being pervs.
Aram cleared his throat and was suddenly in a pair of pants. He’d left his upper half naked, and I found myself staring at it. Damn this Fae lust season. “If then you decide to leave, I’ll let you go back to them.”
“Just like that?” I asked.
His lips twitched. “Of course, but I’ll be coming with you.”
“Whoop, there it is,” I grumbled. “Yeah, that’ll go over really well with everyone. Don’t you have a kingdom to run?”
He leaned in close. “You’re my kingdom now, little mate, and Ialwayskeep my kingdom safe. If you leave, then so will I.”
“Your brothers—”
“Don’t bother yourself with them.” He huffed, a spark of jealousy hitting me. “Now, will you kindly reverse time so we can get this bloody pixie business over with?”
Hearing a god curse was oddly hot, and I tried not to swoon when I still didn’t know if I was making the right call here. Still, I’d already gotten this far, and having him on our side against someone they called the Mother of Shadows couldn’t hurt. I hated to admit it, but I believed him.
As someone who’d been vilified one too many times, I knew how quickly the truth could be twisted. After everything I’d seen, I was confident we had it wrong. He might not totally be a goodguy—in truth, none of us really were—but he wasn’t the monster they said he was.
It was going to be a real bitch to convince the others, though. They’d be certain I was under his spell. Maybe they’d believe everything if I could prove Hera was alive. First order of business was to get all I could from him and figure out our next move.
Like the other time I used it, the world moved backwards with Aram still by my side watching everything unfold in reverse. When I got far enough back to give him time to set up his trap, it was with a little apology to Big that I let time move again. I was a bit woozy and shaky when the pixies finally showed up, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
Magic whirled around them and they all shrank to their tiny pixie forms. I heard a chorus of curses, but their outcry was silenced very quickly. With a flick of his hand, all six of them disappeared. My heart was in my throat, but I tried to ignore it. I wouldn’t leave them there for long. I’d make him release them as soon as I got what I came for.
Aram strolled over to me. “Come with me, little mate. I want to show you something.”
His hand was already outstretched. I took it, and we left the room with night still casting every corridor in darkness. He led me through several hallways, up a set of stairs, all without letting go of my hand. I didn’t have the energy to fight him about it.
Finally, we stood in front of a wall. I quirked an eyebrow, but I wasn’t left confused long. The weird stone became translucent. Without saying anything, he led me into it.
