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Bayodan chuckled. “It is hardly treason to simply speak, even if the truths are dangerous. I suspect our guest would prefer those to comfortable lies or the veiled half-truths she has been fed thus far.”

“You’re damn right about that.” Ava shifted Book to her other arm. “All right. So. How do we—how do we kill him, if he’s trapped in the center of the Web?” She stood, feeling too antsy to stay seated.

“It will take time for me to gather the exact spell ingredients necessary to destroy him. But as for ‘we?’ there is no ‘we.’ There is only one person who can kill him, Ava. And it is you.” Bayodan stood as well, his tail swishing behind him.

“And I fear the transformation will need to be nearly complete before you could cast the spell. One other thing you will not like.”

She shut her eyes, bracing herself for the other shoe. “I know there’s no getting out of this. What else?”

“Before the deed can be done, it will require you to understand both your true nature…and his.”

“A ‘nature’ that no one will fucking explain to me!” She threw up her free hand in exasperation. “So how am I supposed to—throw me a bone here.”

Cruinn chuckled. “I like her. She’s angry.”

“I have a reason to be.” She sighed. “Look. If you can’t tell me what my ‘true nature’ is, or his, can you at least…give me a hint? Point me in the right direction? If I have to puzzle this out on my own?”

Bayodan looked off thoughtfully. “You will find your answers in your dreams, I fear.”

“I hate riddles.”

“I fear you will despise the fae, then.” Bayodan smiled.

“Way ahead of you.” She smirked back at him. “Alright. Well, second question. Why would you help me?”

“I have a habit of disagreeing with King Valroy’s desires.” Bayodan’s tone spoke volumes. There was a lot of history that she wasn’t aware of. “But I do not wish to lose my life over it. So we will need to be cautious.”

“And you trust this guy?” She jerked a thumb at Lysander. “No offense, kitty.”

Lysander let out a surprised laugh. “None taken.”

Bayodan and Cruinn also seemed amused. Cruinn spoke first, hugging Bayodan’s one arm to them as they leaned against their partner. “He is an ally, yes. I have no fear that he will betray you.”

“Which means, as of right now, I can’t trust anybody, still.” She let out a breath. “But you’re the only people who haven’t done anything outright to make me distrust you. Third. What’s the catch? What do you get out of helping me?”

Bayodan's smile returned, approving. “Two primary benefits are paid to us by aiding you.

First, the satisfaction of thwarting the exile's plans, whatever they may be.

He has been a thorn in the courts' side for far too long. And we have no desire to see our kind wiped from existence, as you can imagine.”

Couldn’t argue with that. “Valid. And second?”

“An alliance with the Web's vessel, should you choose to remain as such, or if efforts to separate you from it fail.” His crimson eyes gleamed. “You are becoming a power in your own right, Ava Cole. Those who help shape that power may someday call upon it.”

At least he was honest about his ulterior motives. That was refreshing, in its way. “I need to think about this, and I still need to talk to Valroy. It’s not that I don’t believe you, I’m just trying to hedge my bets.”

“Of course.” Bayodan bowed, his movement surprisingly graceful despite his goat-like lower half. “But do not wait too long. The Web grows stronger with each passing day, and the exile's influence along with it.”

“Yeah. Trust me. I’ve noticed.”

Cruinn leaned his head on Bayodan’s arm. “We will be at tonight's council meeting, should you wish to continue our discussion.”

“Council meeting?" Ava glanced at Lysander.

“A gathering of the court's highest-ranking members,” he explained. “Valroy holds them regularly to discuss matters of state.”

“And I'm invited to this?”

“As the king's honored guest, yes.” Lysander's amber eyes held a warning. “Though politics at the Unseelie Court can be... volatile.”

“Am I going to have to throw more people through holes in space?” She winced.

Lysander couldn’t help but grin. “I certainly hope so.”

“It wasn’t funny.” She poked him in the chest. “And next time, it might be you.”

“It won’t be me. You like me.” Lysander was still grinning like an idiot.

“For now. Maybe. And don’t try your luck.” Shaking her head, she looked back toward Bayodan and Cruinn. The two of them were eying her with a strange, almost parental smile on their collective faces.

Like they were watching teenagers go off to prom on their first dates.

“Ew. No. Don’t—no. No.” She walked a few feet away. “We’re leaving. It was nice to meet you both. I’ll consider your offer. ”

Bayodan inclined his horned head. “Until tonight, then, Weaver. And consider this as well—while our king sees you as a potential weapon, I see you as a potential balance. The difference is significant.”

With that cryptic statement, he and Cruinn departed, disappearing into the dense forest at the clearing's edge.

Ava waited until she was certain they were gone before turning to Lysander. “Who are they, really? Beyond the obvious 'ancient powerful fae lord who looks like literal Satan' bit."

Lysander's lips quirked at her description. “Bayodan is old power, as I said. One of the original Unseelie, from before the courts’ split. He's survived countless shifts in political power, outlasted numerous kings and queens.”

“By playing both sides?”

“By playing all sides,” Lysander corrected. “Bayodan's primary allegiance has always been to what he calls 'the balance between realms,' not to any particular court or ruler. Indeed, he is close personal friends with Abigail.”

“Huh.” That aligned with what the fae lord had said about seeing her as a potential balance rather than a weapon.

Lysander's expression turned teasing. “Are you worried about seeing Serrik tonight? Or excited?”

She grimaced. “We were just talking about killing him, and you’re asking me if I’m about to screw him?”

“You needn’t be ashamed, you know.” He started walking back toward the direction of the Din’Glai with her. “That is a strictly human conceit.”

“I know, you fae like to fuck around. It’s just not—” She sighed. “I don’t know what his motivations are, and I don’t know what my motivations were, and…”

“Well, let me ask you, then.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “Did you agree to it?”

“Yeah. I don’t know if the Web was to blame for that or not, though. ”

“That is hard to say. But, at least, he did not force it upon you. That we know of.” Lysander hummed thoughtfully. “How gentlemanly of him. If I were locked up alone for that long, I might not have had such restraint.”

She laughed quietly. “I’m sure he’s dream-fucked other people besides me.” Slapping her free hand over her eyes, she groaned. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”

“I believe you have needed to have this conversation all day, my darling Weaver. You look as though you have been on the edge of screaming this entire time.”

That was accurate. “Fair.”

“So, next question. Did you enjoy it?” Lysander grinned cheekily at her. “Was he good?”

That had her cheeks going warm. “Bro. What the fuck.”

He laughed. “I will assume that means yes, then.”

“It’s—you don’t just ask somebody—especially not when I know you’re also trying to get into my pants?—”

“Would I like to lay with you? Of course I would, yes. Do I understand that is extremely unlikely, given the complexity of your situation? Also yes. Especially given Serrik’s recent…

escalation of things.” His expression fell.

“I would be lying if I said I was not disappointed. I was hoping I would get to you before he did.”

“Look, it’s not because you’re not attractive, or because you’re not nice, or…” Now she felt like the asshole. “It’s just what you said. Complicated. We were literally just discussing killing him ten minutes ago.”

“I know.” He paused. “However, if you change your mind, do let me know.”

That had her laughing. “Yeah. I will.”

They walked in silence for a long few minutes. “So. Was it good?”

She shoved him hard enough that she caught him off guard, knocking him into a tree. He fell against it, laughing in genuine mirth and joy over the situation. And she found she was smiling.

Really smiling. For the first time in a long time .

The walk back to her quarters was quiet. They didn’t dare talk about anything, just in case someone or somethings were listening.

He kissed the back of her knuckles. “I will come to fetch you before dinner and the council meeting.”

“I promise to try to look forward to it.” She still had a smile on her face when she shut the door and returned to her room.

Complicated.

That was a good word for what everything had become in her life as of late.

Complicated.

She had some time to kill for the afternoon before the evening came.

Flopping down on her bed, she made a fatal mistake.

She shut her eyes.