“What? Why?” Rika stared at Maili, trying to understand why the faery would entrap her and tell her such things. She hadn’t expected to be killed or any such thing. Murder was extreme for faeries, even one so unstable as Maili. Extended torture wasn’t unheard of; some courts thrived on such things. Being captured to talk, however, was peculiar.

When Maili said nothing else, Rika said, “Why would he do that?”

Maili’s arrogant expression vanished, but then quickly returned. “What difference does it make?”

“You don’t know why.” Rika felt a surge of relief at that. Unfortunately, she also felt a burst of worry. Faeries couldn’t lie outright, so Maili had known something Rika hadn’t known. Why would Shy push me toward Jayce? It didn’t make sense.

It also wasn’t her primary problem just then. She focused her attention on Maili, but studied her surroundings casually too. There weren’t any faeries nearby to help Rika, and Maili was too far away to attack—plus there was the matter of the steel restraints that were currently searing Rika’s skin.

Maili seemed lost in her thoughts too. She scowled briefly and then said, “He misled you. He treats us different now. Making new rules. Trying to control us. Solitaries don’t do that. His being Alpha doesn’t mean he’s a king.”

Rika rattled her chains. “He didn’t attack me though, did he? He didn’t chain me up with poison binding my skin.”

“Are you really going to let him get away with this?” Maili came close enough now that Rika could almost reach her. In doing so, Maili had allowed the chains to get slack.

“I don’t know. Sionnach is the only faery out here who’s made me any offers. No one else has even wanted to talk, but I’d listen if you had a better offer,” Rika said misleadingly as she tried to keep her temper hidden. For a brief moment, she was grateful for the years she’d spent twisting her words and learning to hide her emotions around court fey.

Maili looked at Rika pensively.

“And do I truly need to be shackled to talk?” She shook one arm a bit, causing the chain to shiver. “I’m not opposed to talking, but not like this.”

“You understand, don’t you?” Maili’s eyes widened in excitement. “He’s trying to make us into something we aren’t. We make our own way. Humans are fair game. So what if a few of them get broken. . . .”

Rika tilted her head and gave Maili an attentive look. “It has always been that way.”

“Exactly.” Maili let the chains fall looser still. “Keenan’s people tell me we can have our freedom still . . . that it won’t be any different. . . .”

“So you’re going to swear to him?”