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)
Still, there’s the event to deal with. I do my best to focus as I pull Rusalka—the succubi and incubi leader—aside the moment they arrive and explain what I need from them. I’m concerned about one of the humans in the group tonight, and while I think we have the most peace-minded leaders in the realm possible, I’m not willing to sacrifice the human women on the altar of peace. There’s a way forward for all of us; it just requires some careful maneuvering.
Once I have her agreement, it’s time for the others. Thane from the krakens’ territory. Bram from the gargoyles’. Sol, the dragon king. They’re all smart people. They understand what I’m offering them immediately, even if they don’t trust it entirely. That’s fine. Better to ensure they take the offered truce with care.
The human women stand on a short dais in the front of the room, each in a different color of dress, watching us with wide eyes. Belladonna, Briar, Catalina, Grace . . . and Eve. I watch Eve’s eyes go wider as she takes in Thane’s tentacles, Bram’s wings, Rusalka’s hooves, and . . . Well, Sol. When her gaze lands on me, it’s everything I can do to keep my expression composed as if I don’t know her. She’s never seen me in this form, and since she has plenty of cause to hate me currently, I thought it best to avoid a conversation until the rest of my business today is conducted.
I turn back to the leaders. “Let’s begin.”
Rusalka shifts forward, her eyes flaring crimson. “Red.” Belladonna, just as we agreed upon previously.
I turn my attention to the others, waiting with my heart in my throat.
Bram rumbles a little, his wings flaring, but he finally shrugs as if fighting me even this much is too great an effort. “They’re all the same to me. Purple.”
Thank the gods. That was easier than I expected. “Very well.” I force a sharp grin and turn to the two remaining leaders.
“Blue.” Thane moves in his pool, tentacles shifting over one another beneath the water. The ones on his head—where the humans have hair—are mostly behaving, though there’s a nod to his tension in the way they slither over his shoulders, moving in a wind that doesn’t exist.
Now, there’s only Sol remaining. The dragon considers me for a long moment, and I can practically see him weighing whether it’s worth challenging me over the fact that he truly has no choice. “White.” It’s a good pairing. Sol is honorable to a fault, and Briar’s soul is bruised from the abuse of her now-dead husband. He’ll take great care with her, which is all I can ask for.
“Perfect.” I clap my hands together, signaling for the light to go up. “Let’s get these contracts taken care of.”
It takes hours, despite everyone being eager to take their respective human and retreat to their territory. We have a good set of leaders in this generation. Even Thane and Bram, carrying so much loss that it threatens to crush them, are fair, if not kind. Sol is a teddy bear, as Ramanu is so fond of saying. Rusalka is a leader I respect deeply, and we already discussed my concerns over her human, Belladonna, not advocating for herself. There is no reason for the stress wrapping around my spine and threatening to crush me.
I am particular about who I offer contracts to. I have been even before becoming territory leader. Yes, a bargainer’s power grows with each bargain signed and sealed, but offering one means taking responsibility for another person’s well-being. Since becoming leader, I’ve only made one deal and it went badly. In the wake of that it was easier to make no deals at all. I had a whole territory to worry about, and adding more to my plate—even if resulted in more power—was too much to ask for.
Until now.
Creating five bargains and sending four of the humans involved off to live outside my domain and outside my control . . . I clench my fists. They’ll be fine. According to the contracts each of the leaders signed, they will default their territories to me if their human is harmed.
If I thought any of the other leaders would be careless with their prizes, I never would have made this offer. I can’t say they are all good matches, based on what I know of both the humans involved and the leaders, but hopefully things will fall out for the best.
As the last pair files out, heading for the portal that will transport them back to their home, I don’t have an excuse for avoiding Eve any longer.
I sigh and head for her room, where she was escorted back after the others were chosen. I trail my hand along the stone wall. “Keep an eye on her, please. She’s liable to get into trouble on her own.”