Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
It’s too much to process. This is impossible. It should be impossible. I close my eyes and force myself to just . . . accept. I can keep screaming internally that this is all the trick of a traumatized brain, but in the event it’s not, I’ll be at even more of a disadvantage if I keep resisting the truth that’s right in front of me.
Bargains.
I open my eyes. “Bargains as in contracts.”
“Bargains as in contracts,” Ramanu agrees. “I won’t pretend I understand what drove Azazel to change his plans, but rest assured that you’re safe. Even if he weren’t essentially king, these days no one in this city would dare abuse or threaten a human. Bargains are sacred to our people. Humans are to be protected.”
If I assume this is all real, then I need to start plotting. I press the heels of my hands to my eyes and try to think. Azazel had me sign a contract. If Ramanu is to be believed, that contract is the reason he was able to bring me here. To go home, I just need to do those steps in reverse. “How does one cancel a contract—or a bargain, I guess?”
Ramanu grins. “It would have to be mutually agreed upon.”
Something that won’t happen, given how much effort Azazel went through to trick me and bring me here. “Oh.”
“Of course,” they say silkily, “there are other ways. If the terms of the contract are violated—in your favor, of course—then it’s null and void. The bargainer will be forced to fulfill their side of the deal and return you to your realm.”
My mind trips over their words. I read that contract fully. “There’s nothing in there about him giving me something. And when would it even come into play? The terms were for a lifetime.”
If I weren’t watching Ramanu so closely, I would miss the way their jaw drops. They recover quickly but not quickly enough.
I narrow my eyes. “That’s not standard procedure, then.”
They push off the door and shift their hands to their hips, a flirty position that does nothing to mask the fact that they’re fidgeting. “You must be tired.”
“I’m really not.” I watch them closely. A good part of my profession is reading people, and while Ramanu may not share all the features of a human, they’re not doing a good job of masking their emotions right now. “Those terms are abnormal, aren’t they?”
They clear their throat. “There will be an event tomorrow night that requires your attendance. Please avail yourself to the wardrobe.” They reach back for the doorknob. “In the meantime, you should rest. Food will be brought to your room and cleared when you’re finished with it.”
They’re going to leave before giving me any answers. I start to slide off the bed. “What kind of event?”
“An auction, though not a traditional one. It may seem frightening, but have no fear. Azazel won’t allow anyone to touch you. You’re safe here.” Then they’re gone and the door has closed softly behind them.
What the fuck just happened?
CHAPTER 4
AZAZEL
Today has been in the making from the moment I took over leadership of the bargainer demons, wresting it away from Caesarea once and for all. My aunt was content to drive us to ruin for the sake of her entertainment and bloodlust. Our realm is too damn small to be embroiled in a constant state of war. Whole populations have been decimated in service to her ambition. Whole generations—mine, notably—bear the scars that only war can bring.
I’ve vowed to go a different way. One where peace reigns. One where bargainers don’t have the market cornered on power. It’s been too many generations since humans and the people of this realm mingled freely. In a world where each territory takes its strength from the magic of its leader, everyone except us has been in a steady decline for far too long.
Just how Caesarea preferred it.
Today changes that, once and for all. I’ve worked exceedingly hard to create enough trust with the other territory leaders that they were willing to come here and accept my offer. And now it’s happening.
Having Eve on the stage was never part of the plan.
I don’t have a choice, though. Ramanu was right when they pointed out that any appearance of dishonesty will undermine the entire operation. Eve has to join the others, and I have to ensure no other leader chooses her. It’s a mess of my own making, but even with the way time moves differently between realms, there was no guarantee that leaving Eve alone for another day wouldn’t result in her death.
Brosh has spent a decade being a mere voice of discontent. I underestimated him, sure that he’d never escalate. To discover that not only had he found Eve, but he had plans to kill her? I shudder. I hadn’t stopped to think. I needed her safe, and now she is. No matter what the cost ends up being, it’s more than worth it as long as she remains among the living.