In a surge of frustration and determination, I couldn't contain myself any longer. I lunged at Pan, my grip tightening on the staff as I tried to catch him off guard. But he was quicker than I anticipated, effortlessly sidestepping my attack.
"Oh, dear mortal," he teased, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Is that the best you can do? I expected more from you."
My blood boiled at his taunts, and I renewed my efforts, striking out with the staff once more. But each time, he effortlessly dodged my blows, his movements fluid and almost playful.
"I hope you're enjoying this," I shot back, frustration lacing my words. "You think you're so superior, but you're just a coward hiding behind your powers!"
Pan's eyes flashed with something akin to surprise, the amusement momentarily replaced with a flicker of emotion I couldn't quite decipher. But it was gone in an instant, replaced once more with his mischievous grin.
"Oh, you wound me," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I suppose it's only natural for a mortal like you to lash out in the face of something you can't comprehend."
His words only fueled my anger, and I attacked with renewed fervor. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, he seemed to predict my every move, easily countering my strikes.
I knocked down a nightstand, the glass candle crashing to the floor.
He chuckled, the sound like a melody that grated on my nerves. "You have spirit, I'll give you that," he conceded, "but it's clear you're out of your league here."
Determined not to let his taunts get to me, I changed tactics, aiming a swift kick at his side. Surprisingly, it caught him by surprise, and for a moment, he faltered.
But he quickly recovered, a dangerous glint entering his eyes. "Oh, you want to play rough, do you?" he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
Before I could react, he retaliated, knocking the staff from my hands with a flick of his wrist. It clattered to the floor, and I stumbled back, momentarily disarmed.
"Now, now, Wendy," he chided, "is that really how you want to play?"
Fueled by a mix of anger and stubborness, I refused to back down. I launched myself at him, my fists flying in a flurry of punches, but he easily blocked and parried each blow with almost effortless grace.
As the physical fight continued, I could feel the exhaustion creeping in, but I was determined not to let him see my weakness. Pan held back, teasing and taunting me, and it only hardened my resolve to prove that I was more than just a mortal girl to be toyed with.
The dance of fists and taunts carried on, the tension between us escalating with each passing moment. I knew he was holding back, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his motives than he let on.
Why would he want me to be his pet?
What did that even mean?
"Do you know who would want Seraphina dead?" Pan asked, his voice calm despite the intensity of our fight.
"I don't know," I grunted, deflecting his attack with a swift block. "I'm not involved in your Fae court intrigues. I’m just a mortal, remember?”
His eyes bore into mine, searching for any sign of deception. "What about killing me? Were you sent here to kill me?"
My breath hitched, and I hesitated before I replied with: “How could I possibly kill you?"
Pan's lips curled into a wry smile, and I knew he saw through my attempt at deceit. He pressed his advantage, launching a rapid series of strikes that I barely managed to evade.
"You lie," he said, his voice tinged with both amusement and something deeper, something I couldn't quite decipher.
I gritted my teeth, unwilling to back down. "You don't know what I'm capable of," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration.
He chuckled softly, effortlessly closing the distance between us, and I found myself on my back with Pan straddling me, his hands pinning mine to the ground.
"You're stronger than you realize, for a mortal," he said, his breath warm against my cheek. "But you're not a killer."
I struggled beneath him, my heart racing as a mix of conflicting emotions washed over me. I hated that I was drawn to him. I hated how easy it was to forget what I was sent here to do.
"I'll do whatever it takes to find my brothers," I said, trying to match his intense gaze with my own resolve.
Pan rolled his eyes. “Stop pretending you’re more ruthless than you are,” he said. “It’s troublesome. Someone sent you to kill me and I have no concern over it. I’m sure my brother magicked your name in the lottery, even knowing I would know right away. If I truly considered you a threat, do you think I would have allowed an assassin into my palace?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the truth in his words. I should have known. Part of me did. But the thought of possibly finding closure, of inspiring Robin to love me, was too great to pass up.
"You don't know what I'm capable of," I repeated, my voice steadier this time.
Pan's grip on my wrists loosened slightly, but he didn't release me. "Maybe not," he conceded, "but I do know that your heart isn't made of stone. Mortals are pathetically weak, both physically and emotionally. You are no exception.”
“If you know all of that, why keep me here?” I asked.
“Did you not hear my offer?” he retorted, pressing his weight into me even more. “Be my mortal pet. You’ll be removed from the competition but you will be allowed to stay and I will give you the information on your brothers.”
“And how can I trust you?” I asked.
“You can’t,” he said quietly. "But if you're willing to play by my rules, perhaps we can find a way to uncover the truth together."
I glanced at him, torn between skepticism and a flicker of hope. Could I really trust him?
The thought made me laugh.
Of course not.
But in this world of deception and danger, it seemed that Pan was the key to my brothers' fate. I knew I had to tread carefully, to navigate the treacherous waters of this dance with him, if I wanted any chance of uncovering the secrets that lay within the Fae realm. He already knew I was sent here to kill him. It would be foolish to deny it now. And he was giving me the opportunity to stay.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why, what?”
“Why a human pet?” I asked. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.” He released my hands so he could sit back and pinch the bridge of his nose. “The truth is, I’ve known someone has been attempting to kill me for the last month. Ever since I came into power. I have not yet determined who that is, and I knew this farce of a selection process would only make things worse. I need to find out who is trying to kill me. Not your little band of miscreants, but someone who would actually be a threat.”
“How can I possibly help you?” I asked. “You’ve already reminded me multiple times I’m a mortal and completely inept in my own right.”
“Which is exactly why you’re perfect for the job,” he said. “In our culture, it’s quite common to take mortal pets. In fact, when the Mad Mage was king, he married his and together, they had a child. No one would blink an eye at the thought of me taking you as mine. In fact, I'm certain the other contestants would be pleased that you’re out of the way, although I doubt they saw you as true competition.”
“That doesn’t answer the question,” I snapped.
“Touchy.” He grinned. “Anyway, people will speak freely in front of you because they don’t regard you as an equal. Which means you can pick up conversation, hints that something is amiss.”
I gave him a long look. It was difficult to concentrate with him on top of me, with the surprising amount of warmth overwhelming me.
“Why would you trust me?” I asked. “If you know why I’m truly here, why would you trust me to pretend?”
“Besides the fact that you are no true threat to me,” he said, “I don’t. I don’t trust anyone. What I do trust, however, is desire. What someone wants and what someone will do to get what they want. Whether they want to remain unharmed and living or they want to protect the people they cherish, people always want something. More than that, I trust that you want to know the truth about your brothers above all else. Which means you won’t betray me. And, to add the cherry on top, should anything happen to you, I assume you know you’ll be killed almost immediately. The Fae are not exactly fond of humans, and the fact that you’re here, being treated as an equal, doesn’t sit well for them, even if they know it’s a farce.”
“But I wouldn’t be an equal as your pet,” I pointed out.
“Of course not,” he said, affronted I would even suggest anything else. His eyes locked on mine with a mesmerizing intensity. “Being my mortal pet means that you'll be under my protection, a precious possession in the eyes of the Fae court."
His words struck a chord deep within me. The idea of being treated as a pet felt demeaning, but I couldn't deny the allure of having access to the secrets of the Fae realm. If it meant I could find out what happened to my brothers, I might be willing to endure a measure of humiliation.
"I won't be debased in any way," I said firmly, trying to convey my strength and resolve despite the conflicting emotions inside me.
Pan's lips curled into a knowing smile. "You won't be treated as a mere servant," he clarified, "but as someone special, a cherished companion in my court. You'll have certain privileges and the protection of my name. As long as I’m alive, of course.”
Part of me recoiled at the idea of being reduced to a possession, but the pragmatic side of me knew that this was a path I might have to tread if I wanted to get close to the truth.
"What do you expect in return?" I asked, my voice steady, though I couldn't ignore the vulnerability I felt at this moment.
Pan leaned in closer, his eyes locked on mine. "Loyalty, trust, and obedience," he said, his tone unwavering. "You’ll report to me every night after dinner in our room. In return, I'll help you uncover what happened to your brothers, and I'll ensure you're safe within these walls."
“Our room?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said as though it was obvious. “You can’t truly think that I would allow my pet her own quarters? It wouldn’t be becoming at all.”
The thought of placing my trust in a creature as manipulative and unpredictable as Pan was daunting. But my brothers' lives hung in the balance, and I couldn't afford to let my pride stand in the way of finding them.
"I’ll have my own bed?” I asked instead. I hated how meek my voice came out, but it was like I already knew the answer before I even asked the question.
Pan's smile widened, as if he appreciated my tenacity. “We’d have to keep up appearances, I’m afraid,” he said. “Pets don’t have the privilege of having their own bed. They sleep at the behest of their owner, and I’m the clingy sort. I want to have you close, so I always know what you’re doing. You did come here to kill me, after all.”
“And what if I tried to kill you in bed?” I asked.
“Oh, mortal, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make promises you couldn’t keep,” he said. “It would be the most fun I’ve had with a human ever.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I quickly refocused on the matter at hand. "How can you reconcile the fact that you took me to interrogate me about a murder and have now reduced me to being your pet?" I asked. “Wouldn’t they get suspicious?”
“I’m exceptionally mad,” he said. “They all believe so. They wouldn’t question it. And I can say it’s your punishment for entering the lottery in the first place, for truly believing you could sway me from selecting a Fae bride.”
“Isn’t the whole point of this to win the humans over to you?” I asked.
“It’s what Mother wants, to be sure, but I don’t always listen to her.”
“So, not a total Mama’s Boy,” I said. “Got it.”
“You dare insult me to my face?”
“Would you rather I did it behind your back?”
Pan pressed his lips together. After a moment, and with all the grace of a cat, he sprung up and dusted his hands off.
“Grab your things from your room, mortal,” he said. “You’ll stay here from now on. And then, we tell the world you’re truly nothing more than a pet.”
He didn’t help me up and he made his way out the door. I knew he had no qualms about leaving me behind, which meant if I didn’t get up now, I’d probably lose him.
Although that didn’t sound so terrible, I knew I had to keep up with him. As much as I didn’t trust Pan, there was a murderer here, and as a human, I was a prime target.