The Changeling Soldier by Shona Husk Page A

made.
    Melody picked up the glass and took a sip. For a moment Isaac thought his vision had been wrong. Then she wrinkled her nose and tipped the shake down the sink. “I think the milk is turning.”
    He picked up the plate of sandwiches and grabbed a bottle of water. “Will you let Ella go once you have your deal?”
    “Of course.” Melody smiled all sugar and spice, but Isaac knew she’d lied to his face without even blinking. Whatever he did he would be doing to protect himself and Ella. Melody was on her own.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    When the light to the basement went on, Ella held her breath for a moment then released it as she saw Isaac coming down the stairs with a plate and a bottle of water. Her stomach gave a grumble of anticipation. She would have sat up but she could feel energy and life draining away from her. The iron was killing her slowly. Iron poisoning when it entered an open wound, or was ingested, would be a terrible way to do die. At least she would recover fully once the shackles were removed.
    “Are you okay?”
    She leveled a glare at him. “What do you think?”
    He looked away as if ashamed, and she knew he didn’t like this either. They were both pawns in Melody’s game, and to win, they had to outsmart her. She wouldn’t be beaten by an upstart mortal. This was not how her life would end. She clung to those thoughts. They were becoming her mantra.
    “Help me sit.” She paused and then softened the order; she needed Isaac as a friend and ally. “Please.”
    He placed the food down and eased her up and made sure she was comfortable. “How are your ankles?”
    “They’ve been better.” But if Isaac hadn’t made sure the iron wasn’t on her skin they’d have been worse. So far Melody was leaving the details of her care to Isaac—which was a good thing for everyone. “Any progress?”
    He shook his head and offered her a sandwich. “She’s thinking about it, though.”
    She opened up the sandwich and took out the ham. Despite spending hundreds of years in the mortal world, she still couldn’t bring herself to eat meat. “Did you want it?”
    Isaac took it from her and ate it without missing a beat. “I didn’t make any without meat, sorry.”
    “It’s okay. I’m used to it.” She smiled. “Looks like we get that dinner date after all.”
    He didn’t laugh. “Tell me about Annwyn.”
    “It’s as beautiful as it is dangerous. Mortals who go there often get trapped because they forget the rules.”
    “What are the rules?”
    She narrowed her gaze. “Are you planning on visiting?”
    He shrugged, and that was as close to a lie as he’d ever told her. Why would he give up the mortal world for Annwyn? “If you have a soul, you can’t drink, eat or dance in Annwyn without becoming trapped there. Then only the King can free you.”
    Isaac ate in silence for a moment, his eyes focused on something she couldn’t see. “And if I had no soul in Annwyn?”
    She almost dropped her sandwich. Was he truly considering giving up his soul so his sister could get her deal? “In Annwyn, you would be fairy. A changeling is just a fairy born in the mortal world and with the misfortune of having a soul.” She took a sip of water from the bottle.
    “Without a soul, how would I change?”
    “What do you mean?” Did he think having no soul would make him less of a person?
    “Will I still be me?”
    “Of course. The soul simply makes you mortal. People have been trading their souls for wealth, fame and longevity for millennia.” She grimaced as the half-truth left her lips.
    His eyes narrowed as he noticed her change in expression, but then he asked the wrong question. “If it’s that easy, what’s the catch?”
    She gave a small laugh. “The soul belongs to the fairy. The human gets his or her desires…most turn sour, as mortals don’t know how to deal with the magic they’ve been graced with.” She nibbled at the sandwich and watched him closely. There was only one