“Bo hasn’t told you, I’m sure. He couldn’t. But Georgiana used to be a naughty young woman. Loved breaking rules where no one could catch her.” Sev continues to tap his fingers in a repetitive rhythm. “She didn’t think I was home. I often wasn’t back then. Had other business to attend to. And hadn’t bothered to set up a full suite of wards. Thought my reputation would be enough to keep everyone away.” His lips curl in a smirk. “But I forgot how arrogant the young are. How stupid. And the little pest crept inside my house, touched my things, and tried to take one with her.” Now Sev’s mouth stretches into a full grin. “I caught her, of course. And she begged me to let her go. Promised to complete a task for me. One I thought was perfect for a little thief.” His eyes meet mine, holding my gaze. “Not even a day past before she found someone to pawn the task off onto. That’s the woman you want to give my boon to?”
The monster likely hears how my teeth grind together, the fury locking my jaw.
Now, finally, I have my answer. Why Bo was in debt to Sev.
He was protecting Georgiana from her own stupid mistakes. The selfish siren had thrown him to a dangerous creature to save herself and didn’t even glance over her shoulder to see the damage she’d left in her wake.
But this isn’t about revenge.
This is about Bo’s freedom. And the town’s safety.
“Number three stands.” And hopefully, another Of the Wing member gets elected to The Council before the favor needs to be called in.
Sev stares at me. Then he laughs. Slow at first, then great bellows of it.
Only to stop abruptly. The transition is eerie in its swiftness.
“No.”
“No?” Though I repeat the word as a question, I’m not surprised.
Sev has something I don’t.
Time.
But I also haven’t laid my final card on the table.
“Your price far exceeds what you offer. But this was amusing to hear. Thank you for the entertainment.”
“You still don’t know what I offer.”
The corner of his lips twitches, as if a frown attempted to take over his sensual mouth. But he restrains the display of emotion.
“You already stated. You offer the apple.”
“About that, let me explain.” Now it’s my turn to lean back, my relaxing posture a power move. Because I know I’m on the verge of a checkmate. “You’re not the only one interested in god objects. And while you may have wealth and power beyond my comprehension, you do not have my library. Full of books with the most interesting pieces of information. Fascinating spells. Like one I came across only a few months ago.”
His eyes spark, and the cracks in his shield bleed agitation and interest.
“I discovered an incantation that can be wielded on a god object.” I lean across the table and hold his gaze with mine. “To destroy it.”
Fury blazes hot in his eyes before he shutters them.
“It’s never good to let emotions come into play during negotiations.”I long to taunt him. But Sev is not one to underestimate. I don’t have his blood oath yet.
“Of course my offer sounds unappealing. I bet you’ve been stealing god objects for years. Decades maybe. I’d bet you’re a long-lived mythic and you think you only need to outsmart me in the future or wait until I’m too frail to defend my little treasure.”My voice lowers, both coaxing and threatening. “But you don’t have that time, Sev. The deal I’m offering is to give you the apple in exchange for my terms, or I’ll destroy it. You will never possess it.”
I can see murder in his eyes.
“Also, just so you know, I sent a message to a few council members, letting them know where I am. If you kill me tonight, you will be driven from this town. Maybe you’ll make your way back once the next generation is here. But the apple will be gone by then.”
The monster gazes at me, his expression colder than the metal the man I love was trapped in. Trapped because of him.
Sev has no sympathy from me. And he knows it.
“Clever witch.”
46
