The fae woman looked almost smug as Lane sliced her own palm open and sealed the deal between them. Already, the wounds were knitting shit as Fiora drew back, leaving only a tiny scar in the shape of a snowflake on either woman’s palm as a reminder of a contract needing to be completed. With the smile ever growing on her lips, she nodded her satisfaction.<br/><br/><br/>“Very good. Once your half of the bargain is completed, then the Guardian and his fuck toy will have the girl and Gideon - or shall I call him James now? - will be left to his own devices,” she said pleasantly, casting a look around the table.<br/><br/><br/>Just as James jumped to attention, freed from his icy shackles. Though whether Fiora had allowed his freedom or he freed himself through his own force of will was in question. Violet swirled in his irises as they focused on the deal now scarred into their flesh with a mixture of angry and self-righteous angst at what had just been sealed.<br/><br/><br/>Except he hadn’t yet bargained his own deal. He spoke quickly, before Fiora could further entertain dragging Lane off without any of the others getting a word in edgewise.<br/><br/><br/>“<i>Stop</i>,” he commanded, a sort of ambient magic that crackled around him punctuating the word and forcing the attention of those at the table to turn their focus on him, if even just for the minute he needed to spit out what he needed to. “Mia goes with them now, and not later, right now, before Lane’s half of the bargain is fulfilled. If she breaks her half of the bargain, only then will you be allowed to seek her out again. I also want you to remove this fucking demon mark once and for all.”<br/><br/><br/>Fiora held her icicle in hand like a wand, considering the arcanist for a bemused moment. Her blue eyes sparkled like they held snowglobes in their depths and her smile was almost childlike with how it stretched across her face. “Fine,” she eventually agreed. “But what do I get in return?”<br/><br/><br/>James had been waiting for that part. Sucking in a breath, he gave Lane a sidelong look, then pushed his fingers through his hair, “I will return the lore mortis back to the book and bind her there.”<br/><br/><br/>Intrigue snapped into Fiora’s face. Pace, his hand tightening around Nora’s where she had slipped it into his, sat up a little straighter. A sudden dark look crossed the Guardian’s face as he considered the other man, but as of yet, he said nothing.<br/><br/><br/>“I released her,” James continued. “So I’ll return her. In exchange for all of the above. Do you agree?” He held his palm out then, jaw tense, staring the winter queen down. Grinning now, Fiora waved her icicle like she was some sort of fairy godmother, the motion causing James to flinch as it ripped through flesh and creating a bright red wound that oozed blood. Turning to the other two, she made the same motion, so that twin slashes appeared into their palms as well, though Pace’s seemed to be trying to close all on its own.<br/><br/><br/>“Deal,” She said, then reached out and took his hand, binding the magic of their agreement. She repeated the same with the other two, until the icicle broke into pieces, clattering wetly on the tabletop. Identical scars appeared on their palms, just like it had on Lane’s. “But I was planning on relieving the girl to the Guardian and his woman without your interference,” she said sweetly.<br/><br/><br/>James turned a shadowed look down to Lane from where he stood, a troubled look knitting his brow as he considered her. Then, reaching out, he wrapped an arm around her suddenly and pulled her in close, his head bending down so that he could murmur in her ear, “Whatever you do, do not eat or drink anything that they give you. They’ll complain that you’re breaking rules of hospitality if you refuse their offerings, but bluff your way out of that. You have to agree to their hospitality or they won’t adhere to their end of the bargain. I’ll come find you,” he promised, pulling back enough to meet her eye and lean in to plant a rough kiss on her mouth.<br/><br/><br/>When he finally pulled back, Fiora was scowling at them. Still staring, she clapped her hands together once, so that the spell that had been binding Remy shattered and the stoneman shuddered as his eyes flickered again with life. “Remington, you will bring the girl to the Guardian and his woman immediately. She is theirs to do with as they will now.”<br/><br/><br/>Remy looked lost for a moment, though once his attention had a chance to bounce around at the faces surrounding him, he had the graciousness to look apologetic. Especially as his attention landed on Nora, and the fact that she held Pace’s hand. Clearing his throat, his chair scraped backwards and he stood, “Of course, my Queen. I will deliver her to The Corner Bar?” The last he inquired of Pace, who simply nodded, his pondering look still on his face, silver eyes slanted down at the woman at his side.<br/><br/>Next, Fiora turned back to Lane, and actually pouted, “Why now? We have not eaten yet. Is that not why we are at lunch? Have we all had a chance to look over the menu?”<br/><br/><br/>“Are you fucking kidding me?” Was the question that came out of James’ mouth. He was still standing, as if uncertain of whether he should sit back down or not.