“And this is one of those times?”
“Absolutely.” Turning, I bent my knees and brought my legs onto the couch, crossing them. “There is a reason for the saying that desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes, those measures are less than honorable. While we would all like to believe we would not resort to such things, none of us truly knows what we are capable of until the occasion arrives. From my perspective, you were the one who paid the highest price for your actions. Given the condition Byx and I found you in, I would assume this Maxine recovered your ill-gotten gains.”
“You would assume correctly.”
I gave a firm nod. “Then as far as I’m concerned, you’ve paid your debt and wiped the slate clean.”
Vander’s eyebrows rose once more. “That’s hardly all I’ve done. At best, I’m a shoddy warlock. At worst, I’m a dangerous menace. I’ve made charms that…well, let’s just say the client didn’t get exactly what they paid for.” Vander flinched when he said the last.
“Of course you’re a shoddy warlock. You’re just a baby.” I huffed. “Honestly, how could anyone expect quality charms from a warlock of your age? They should have known better.” I crossed my arms over my chest. I truly feared for the future of the different races. Humans weren’t the only idiots out there.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Vander sounded truly astonished.
“Not at all. Now, tell me why you’re so desperate that you’d willingly cheat a troll while playing cards.”
For a moment, Vander simply stared at me. Running his fingers through his hair again, he cradled his head in his hands while whispering, “This is fucking nuts.”
“Perhaps, but I’d still like to know.”
“Sure. Why the hell not?” Peeking at me through the dark bangs covering his eyes, Vander answered, “I’m trying to pay off my father’s debts.”
I frowned. “What debts and why are they now suddenly yours?”
“Fuck if I know. Ask Alpha Arie Belview.”
My curiosity turned to anger. “Alpha Belview is holding you to debts your father made? Debts you had no part in?”
“That sums it up.” Vander blew out a frustrated breath, and his downturned gaze appeared defeated. “There’s so much. I don’t think I can ever pay it off. Arie sends his goon squad to my shitty apartment now and again, and they clean me out. One of his betas showed up yesterday and took everything I had. My apartment might not be much, but it’s all I’ve got, and rent is due in a couple of days. I don’t want to be out on the street in this kind of weather.”
I couldn’t blame Vander for that. It was the middle of winter. Not many survived out there on their own, especially one as young and inexperienced as Vander.
“I see.” My answer was clipped. I wasn’t angry at Vander. I was livid with Arie Belview. He was a shit alpha that needed put in his place. One day Arie Belview would learn that there was always someone bigger, someone stronger, and someone better waiting in the wings. I simply wished I would live long enough to see the day.
Unfortunately, today was not that day. I wasn’t a werewolf and held no sway over their laws.
Shifting forward, Vander placed his hands on his knees and acted as if he were about to stand. When he said, “I’ve taken up enough of your time and hospitality,” I knew I was right. When he added, “I don’t know how I’ll pay you back for what you and Byx did for me, but I’ll figure something out,” I knew for certain I needed to make him stay. If there was onething our short conversation had taught me, it was that Vander Kines was his own worst enemy.
“Sit,” I commanded again. “Stay.” Vander’s body quieted. Placing my hand on his forearm again, I let loose a weighted sigh. I considered my next words carefully. “I find myself in a unique position, Warlock Kines.” Vander flinched when I mentioned his last name.
“And what would that be?” he hesitantly asked.
“I’m not sure if you are aware, but I run a little business called Brownie’s Bits and Boggles.” His eyes widened at the mention of my store. “Byx is getting older. She’s going through a delicate time in her life. Today was the first day she transported.”
“Dear Gaia.” Vander’s head snapped in the direction of the hallway again. “You had no idea where she was, did you?”
I hedged. “Not when I first learned she’d transported, but I had a hint or two.” I wasn’t ready to tell Vander about mysightor the fact that he played a prominent role in my visions. I didn’t intend to keep it a secret forever, but Vander was currently too wounded to bear such a heavy burden.
Dismissing the future for now, I pushed forward as I attempted to secure the present. “I believe I have a solution to your current financial predicament. A mutually beneficial arrangement if you will.”
Vander’s skeptical expression was warranted. “What kind of an arrangement?”
I offered my most congenial grin. “You see, I could use some more help in the store. I think you would be perfect. There’s even an apartment above the store where you could live. While I don’t know what your current apartment looks like—”
“I wasn’t lying when I called it a shithole.”
“Ah, well then, while the apartment above the store is nothing fancy, I would hardly describe it in such lurid terms. Ibelieve your living situation would be considered an upgrade.” Vander sat there, staring at me wide-eyed and looking, for all the world, as young as he truly was. “I could offer some payment as well. We could work out something monetary or perhaps some type of mentorship would suit better.”
Vander sat up, his back ramrod straight. “You’d mentor me? Are you shitting me right now?”
