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Assassin.

Was that how he saw me? A tool to wield this blade? It was then that I realized the Mist King actuallyneededme. He couldn’t cross the chasm, and neither could any of his fellow shadow fae. If he wanted to use that blade to ensure the death of his enemy, he needed a mortal hand. He could not wield it.

I could do both of these things.

I hated that I was considering it. He was the Mist King, and he’d lied to me. How could I be sure he wasn’t lying about this, too? Still, my hatred for Oberon ran deep.

Dropping my legs on either side of the branch, I leaned toward him with arching brows. “What do I get if I do this for you?”

His lips curled. “Revenge for whatever he did to you. King Oberon would be dead. Your people would be free of him.”

“But he’s the only one keeping the mists at bay. His power is what stops it from entering Teine, right? If I kill him, my people lose that protection. Don’t they?”

His eyes searched mine. “Yes, I assume that’s what would happen, but there are places in this world where your people can go that are safe from the mists.”

Frowning, I shifted on the branch. “There are?”

“Outside of Aesir, in the human kingdoms across the sea. It would require a journey, but yes.”

I blinked at him. “I thought you burned down all those cities.”

“I keep trying to tell you. None of that happened.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him. For a moment, I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking. He’d finally given me some explanations I sorely needed, and he’d stopped stomping around angrily, but I still didn’t like him, and I certainly didn’t trust him.

He was right about one thing, though. I wanted King Oberon dead and my people to be free.

What was worse? I could refuse to work with the monster who had destroyed the world, while Val and Mother got lost to the mists. I could do nothing while my people back home suffered beneath King Oberon’s rule.

Or I could accept his offer. Get my revenge. And help mortals take a step toward a better future, hopefully.

I’d need some assurances, though.

“How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick?” I folded my arms. “You’ve lied to me once. I don’t trust you.”

“I’ll make a vow,” he said. “Fae magic will bind me to my words. The only way to undo it would be through death or if we both agreed to release each other from it.”

“A magic vow?”

“Yes. Neither of us will be physically capable of doing anything that jeopardizes that vow without permission from the other.”

“That sounds…like a lot.” I cocked my head. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch. If you do what I ask, I’ll personally ensure your people find a safe place to live, where there are no mists and monsters.”

“I’m going to need you to do one better than that,” I said, my heart thumping. “Before Morgan convinced me to run, I found out my mother and my closest friend crossed the bridge to escape King Oberon. They’re out there. Somewhere. I need you to help me find them. And I want to go with you.”

He arched a brow. “That’s a lot of demands.”

Swinging one leg over the side of the branch, I hopped down and brushed off my trousers. And then remembered it was only imaginary dirt. “Two demands. One, help me find my family. Two, make sure my people find somewhere safe away fromyourmists. That’s the only way I’ll agree to a magical binding vow.”

“You said it was your friend who escaped.”

“Val is as much my family as my own fucking blood,” I whispered harshly.

He ran a hand along his jaw, and then nodded. “All right. But I must warn you, the lands outside this castle are—”

“Dangerous? I know. Is it true the mists themselves can kill mortals?”