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“You’ll pardon which of my crimes?” Her voice was low.

He raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. “The crime you’re well known for: murdering Lord Estur.”

Lord Estur. She hated thinking about her old boss. An image flashed in her mind: Lord Estur holding a severed head in his hand. Slippery blood splattering the floor. A hollow laugh escaping from his lips.

She banished the thought and whispered, “And the crime of being a fae?”

“That’s not a crime—”

“Oh, but itis.” Kolfinna dug her nails into her bicep and crossed over her chest tightly, sternly. “You think I’msolelyon the run because of my crimes? I’m mostly on the run because I’m a fae. I can be killed at any point for simplyexisting. How will you ensure that I can stop running when this country is filled with people who wish to kill me simply for existing?”

“You’re strong enough to stop them,” he said.

“I pride myself in being a relatively strong fae, something that isn’t normal considering us fae aren’t allowed to practice our magic freely for fear of being caught, but even I can’t face off multiple attackers. Especially if those attackers are a part of the Hunter’s Association. You do realize a good portion of the Hunter’s Association, a recreational club dedicated to killing me and my kind, comprises of the military and the Royal Guards? They masquerade as justice seekers hunting evil fae, but we all know that isn’t the case. They kill any and all fae because they believeallfae are evil. What’s stopping them from hunting me down? I might be a strong fae, but even I can’t defeat everyone.”

The conversation probably wasn’t going the way he had planned, judging by the coolness of his gaze. “There’s the fae protection act—”

Her piercing laugh broke the grimness of the conversation and made all the men in the room straighten. She tilted her head against the wall to feel the sturdy comfort of the stones against her body. The fae protection act was a joke. The fae could use it to go to a government facility and tell them they felt threatened and in danger, but there wasn’t a single recorded case of it actually being enforced. No fae would outright tell anyone they were a fae, and no government facility would ever help a fae.

The hatred Rosain had for the fae ran deeper than any law could fix.

“Ohplease.” She gnashed her teeth together. “That law was passed in order to abolish the Hunter’s Association from the military and force black rank Hilda Helgadottir to resign from her position as the leader so she could be better used by the military instead of being used for petty things like hunting poor, weak fae. That act doesn’t protect my people from being killed by the Hunter’s Association, or any group of fae hating people. Have you ever seen it used to protect a fae? And even when people kill fae, the dead never get justiceeven thoughthat law exists.”

Fenris watched her for a long while. “I cannot speak for the rest of your fae brethren, but since you’re an asset for Rosain, we will do everything we can to protect you. If anyone tries to hurt you, you are free to use self-defense to protect yourself. And if it ever goes to court, that law will protect you. I can guarantee that,” he said. “But in general, you won’t have to worry about that because you’ll be under my protection.”

She waved her hand. “Just because you’re a black rank doesn’t mean you can protect me all day. And what about after we finish this mission? What happens to me then? Or will you continue to babysit me?”

“After this mission is over, there’s no need for me to protect you because you’ll become like any other citizen. I’m not sure if I’m making myself clear, but you’re free after this mission. That means you will not be chased down by the military or the Royal Guards. The Hunter’s Association is another matter. If they harass you, you can always make a claim with the courts.”

The courts would do nothing to help her. The fae didn’t bother to go to the courts if they were being chased by the Hunter’s Association because once the hunters were onto them, it was usually too late.

Kolfinna held her breath. “And if I refuse?”

“You will be imprisoned and likely put to death for the murder of Lord Estur.”

There wasn’t much to consider. It was either die or go on a highly risky mission and potentially die there, but at least with the latter, there was a sliver of a chance of survival. Her shoulders sagged and she stared at the ground. She wasn’t wearing shoes, so her bare toes splayed from under the hem of her dress on the gleaming wood floor. There was a jagged scar above her big toe where Blár’s ice shards had impaled her right foot before freezing her leg up to her knee.

“I’ll do it,” she said so quietly that she was surprised they even heard her.

“Excellent.” Fenris clapped his hands together. He didn’t look too shocked by her answer because, after all, what other choice did she have? She wouldn’t just keel over and die. If death was that easy, she wouldn’t have been on the run for so long.

After the mission was over, she would go back to her life. She would be free from the authorities, but she would still be living in hiding. Except this time, she didn’t have Katla to keep her company. Even if the military and the Royal Guards left her alone, she would still be running from everyone. Keeping herself hidden. Using different names.

Maybe this time she could be Lagertha or Aina. Or another pretty name that disguised her true nature.

“—we’ll review the notes next week and—” Fenris was saying.

“Wait,” Kolfinna said, an idea already formulating in her mind. Her heart pounded brazenly as the thought became more tangible. “I want to add a condition to the mission.”

If they needed her like he had said, then she could make demands too. She didn’t have to go along with whatever they said. If they needed her—trulyneeded her—then she had choices.

Fenris’s silver eyes shifted to slits as he regarded her carefully. Mistrusting her. “Go on.”

“If I go … You’ll make me a Royal Guard.” The words spilled out quickly, like she was scared to hear them aloud and wanted them out of her mouth as soon as possible.

That seemed to be the last thing Fenris expected because his red eyebrows furrowed together and he appeared lost for words. Mímir blinked as if he heard wrong, while Magni’s mouth was slightly ajar. For a moment, no one said anything.

Finally, Magni laughed harshly. “You’ve got to be kidding.You, a Royal Guard? Never in a million years.”