"No!" The refusal left her lips and Eli’s brows lifted in surprise.
"No?" He cocked a brow at her and sighed, "I thought you were desperate to help Issac, but it doesn’t seem to be enough."
He let go of her chin and pouted, his hand on his chest, "That hurts though. You didn’t even care to know what the deal was about."
No, no, don’t fall for his tricks, Islinda willed herself not to be affected by his sulking. There was just a day left and she would be free finally. Her leaving cannot be hindered by so careless deal made at the last minute. However, Eli was right, she hadn’t even heard the details of the deal before refusing. She wanted to help Issac and yet hadn’t given it a fighting chance.
Islinda groaned inwardly, hoping to the gods that she didn’t regret this in the end. She rolled her eyes, "Fine, tell the deal."
Suddenly, Eli’s face, which had been looking sullen and disappointed, lit up in his most lively and impish smile that made Islinda shudder. She instinctively recognized a predator with her and a slight distrust ran through her.
"As I told you earlier, Issac’s case is with Aldric and I wouldn’t want to overstep my boundaries, however, I can convince Aldric if you will be so willing to make a deal of equal value." He said, eyes boring into hers.
He licked his lips, a gesture Islinda captured and it sent a thrill through her, but she pretended nothing happened.
Eli continued, "This is the deal. Aldric plans to visit the winter court, you can think of it as his hotown, not that he’s welcod. Who cares anyway? But here’s the issue, with a current break from the battlefield, he’s supposed to run the affairs of the court as the winter Fae prince, but it seems soone has taken over his role and that is what he intends to find out. So would you be so willing to accompany him to the winter Fae court?"
"Wait a minute," Islinda was trying to understand sothing here. She pointed to her chest, "You want to accompany Aldric on a killing spree?" Islinda could not think of Aldric’s other thod of "finding out" except through torture and killing.
The fact Eli didn’t even look taken aback by her statent affird her thoughts there was a possibility of that happening. He answered, "Don’t worry, it would not co down to that," He added, "Hopefully."
Islinda face-pald, "This is not happening. I shouldn’t have co here at all." She turned to leave when Eli reached out and grabbed her.
He said sincerely, "If you were with him, there would be less killing."
"That doesn’t make sense. Why would he consider my presence?"
"Because he cares about you?"
It took Islinda everything not to burst into laughter, scoffing instead, "Really? Are you pulling my leg right now?"
"He cares about your well-being at least. Aldric might seem like a heartless bastard, but he has a heart. Have you forgotten, I’m him, after all." Eli reminded her.
Islinda swallowed nervously, what should she do? If she made a promise to accompany him to the winter court, would she be bound to her words? Would the deal still stand if she escapes tomorrow considering she would be in the human realm where such law doesn’t apply? It seed like a possible loophole. One she gladly manipulated.
"Fine, I’ll make you the deal then," Her smile grew, "I’ll accompany Aldric to the human realm and he will finally forgive Issac." She thrust out her hand for a handshake.
Eli stared at the unfamiliar gesture before realizing that it was a human culture and he enveloped her smaller hand with his bigger one," Deal. " He smiled, exhilarated.
Islinda did not feel the familiar tingle of magic which was a good thing, right? Does it an that the deal wasn’t binding? Now, this calls for celebration! She was killing two birds with one stone. She would escape and Issac would end up being forgiven, even if she doesn’t deliver in the end. A deal was a deal. He just was scamd by her.
Lost in her thoughts, Islinda didn’t realize that they were still shaking hands. And when she did realize it, she tried to let go, but Eli grabbed her firmly making her glance up at him with a questioning look.
His face was expressionless, his jaw set and Islinda yelped in surprise when he pulled her into his arms and plastered her against his strong chest.
Islinda peered up at him with a scowl. What was he up to now? However, she was acutely aware of how close their bodies were pressed together and how warm he felt. Her pulse began to race, watching slowly as his eyes darkened with lust causing her breath to hitch.
The air around them changed and Islinda should have stepped away by now to clear the air, but didn’t. Why was she even fighting this attraction between them? She began to wonder.
Her hand she had placed on his bicep earlier to steady herself began to trace down his arm in a slow caress. Islinda looked him in the eyes before she focused on stroking his arm. Eli too watched her touching him seductively and didn’t stop her. Instead, he freed her other hand and she then placed both on his chest.
Islinda glide her palms over his rippling abs, stroking his chest and enjoying the feel of his muscles under her fingertips. Eli groaned and the nightly shadows made their appearance but they didn’t harm her. If anything, a wisp of the shadows curled around her fingers and Islinda gasped as she stared down at it with fascination.
"It’s beautiful," Islinda said to Eli, eting his eyes only for his mouth to close over hers suddenly.
She moaned into the kiss, wrapping an arm around his neck and digging her hand into his silky, soft hair. However, she parted from the kiss only to go on her toes and whisper into his ear,
"Take to bed."
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