Islinda felt a cold chill wash over her before hot anger bubbled through her at the threat to her life. Her hands clenched at her sides, and her teeth ground together so hard that she was almost vibrating with anger. She was tired of people threatening her life, and she refused to be the sa weak Islinda who couldn’t protect herself and ended up being killed by a Fae in a brutal manner.
As if sensing her impending explosion, Andre quickly stepped in front of her in a defensive stance. He said, "That wouldn’t be the right thing to do, brother."
"Why? Because she might be half Sumr Fae and burn to a crisp?" Theodore chuckled.
Islinda blinked in surprise. She was a half-Sumr Fae?
Theodore must have noticed her surprise because he said haughtily, "Seriously? You nearly burnt down the palace, and you couldn’t figure out what you are? Unlike you, an untrained freak, Valerie had much better control of his powers. Maybe he can help you with that." He quickly added, realizing his slip-up, "That is, if I let you leave this room alive."
Islinda swallowed uneasily, not because of his threat but because deep down, she felt unsure if she was actually a Sumr Fae. It didn’t sit right with her.
She turned to Andre, "You are not exactly letting him go free with my secret?"
Andre whispered, "I think the first thing to worry about is your life, not your secret."
"He can’t kill ," Islinda said confidently. She didn’t know where the assurance ca from, but she felt it deep inside.
Unsurprisingly, Andre was a bit dumbfounded, and he stared at Islinda for a mont longer than necessary, making her squirm under his gaze.
"What?" she asked, feeling self-conscious.
"What did you dream about?" Andre asked.
Islinda froze in place. However, she quickly composed herself and answered, "I don’t rember." She lied through her teeth.
Andre didn’t believe her, and she knew it.
So she added a convincing detail, "I just know it was so scary that I still shiver whenever I think about it."
"Okay," Andre said, though Islinda couldn’t detect his usual sincerity. Maybe he sensed sothing off about her dream, but with Theodore present, he decided not to press the matter.
But deep down, Islinda knew she couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t trust the Fae. Sure, Andre promised not to tell her secret and help her discover her true identity, but they were the sa creatures who reacted strongly to the ntion of a demon. If she told Andre about seeing a demon in her dream or mory or vision, whatever that was, who knows how he would react or if he would uphold his end of the deal. Plus, she was afraid of what he would deduce from that encounter. Her mother couldn’t be a demon, Islinda shivered at the thought. She had to convince herself she was just a half-Sumr Fae, like Theodore said.
"I made a deal with Aldric to keep Islinda," Andre said to Theodore.
Theodore rubbed his ear without a care, "You’ve been reminding of that for the past hour." He straightened up, a wicked smile appearing on his face. "Perhaps, I won’t have to do anything. After all, Aldric’s hearing is today, and he might be sentenced to death. When that happens, it’ll be easy to take care of you, Islinda. A lot of people in my family want you dead." He took pleasure in reminding her of her impending doom.
"Well, they can get in line," Islinda snapped back at him. Her heart raced at the thought of what would happen to Aldric.
As if sensing her worry, Andre assured her while glaring at Theodore, "Ignore my brother. They might punish Aldric for his actions, but he won’t be dying anyti soon."
"Fine. But I need to attend that hearing, and you have to find a way to shut him up. He can’t go around telling people I’m not human."
Theodore looked at her in surprise, "Your confidence leaves speechless, freak." He found her situation amusing.
Islinda glared at him, annoyed by his gloating. Then he taunted Andre, "I didn’t realize you’ve beco her servant as well."
Andre ignored his taunts and calmly said, "You can’t tell anyone her secret, Theodore. Not Valerie, not Aldric, and especially not your mother. Who knows what they would do with that knowledge?"
"I’ll do whatever I want," Theodore retorted, no longer amused.
"No, you won’t," Andre said, taking a step forward until he was face to face with his brother.
Theodore smirked, "Are you going to fight again?" His eyes twinkled with the prospect of a fight.
Andre could already see the calculations in his brother’s head. If Islinda happened to be killed during their fight, it would be considered collateral damage, and he wouldn’t face severe punishnt for killing their father’s guest.
"No, I wouldn’t do so, or have you forgotten who I am, brother, I’m our father’s spy Master. The wind carries most secrets to my ear. "
He raised a brow, "And so?"
"We’d make a deal, brother. You’d leave Islinda’s secret alone, you would not use it against her nor tell a single soul about it."
Theodore laughed at him before his expression turned cold, "You must be out of your mind Andre to think you would convince into making a deal —"
"Does your mother know you’ve been having coitus with your baby mama lately?"
Theodore’s face paled, and Islinda could tell from the way he swallowed nervously that Andre had hit a nerve.
He raised a warning hand, "You won’t say a word to my mother, or I swear, brother, you’ll have a war on your hands."
"Then make the deal, brother," Andre said, detached and composed. It was hard for Islinda to believe that he was the sa kind and sweet-loving Autumn Fae she knew.
A tic appeared in Theodore’s jaw, and fire burned in his eyes. But his hands were tied, and he reluctantly gave in through gritted teeth, "I won’t use or tell anyone her secret. You have my word."
"Good," Andre said.
Theodore shook his head, as if not believing that Andre of all people would do this to him. "I won’t forgive you for this, brother."
"I don’t expect you to," Andre answered, showing a hint of emotion this ti.
They stared at each other for a long mont until Theodore let out what sounded like a strangled groan and stord out of the room. It was just the two of them now.
"You’re scary," Islinda blurted out.
"Am I now?" Andre raised dark eyes towards her, looking offended by her words.
Islinda nervously licked her lips and said, "I an, it’s dumb how your siblings don’t recognize your worth. You hold a lot of information, and information is power."
"I told you before, I have no interest in political aspirations unless I’m motivated..." Andre stopped and looked at her, intrigued. He asked, "Are you scared of ?"
"I don’t know, you tell . Should I be scared of you?" Islinda smartly retorted.
Andre didn’t answer, but a sly smirk appeared on his lips. When he seed more relaxed, he said, "So, what’s next?"
Islinda replied, "Take to that hearing. I need to see Aldric."
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