His gaze dropped to the demon on the floor. “This isn’t the first death in the past few weeks, although it’s a different method. Something is hunting demons, and your reputation precedes you. You’ll bemypersonal bounty hunter.”
I squashed down every instinct urging me to tell him to go fuck himself. “For how long?”
He tilted his head in that alien way that told me, more clearly than words, that he was not– and would never be– anything close to human. Both demons stared at me like I was a particularly dense brand of stupid and I ground my teeth. Demon vows were—
“Forever,” Samael said, pure male satisfaction dripping from the word.
I stared at him. I couldn’t–wouldn’t–work for a demon for the rest of my life. Mom had warned me off demons from the moment I could talk, and turning my back on the Mage Council was a good way to end up dead. On the other hand, a short-term job would give me free access to his demons, and there was a chance one of them would know why Vercan was near my mom’s body. If I was careful, I could walk away from this with more information than I’d ever had.
“I’ll make you a deal.”
The corner of his lips curled in an expression I’d call amusement on anyone else. On him, it just looked like he was considering doing murder.
I pulled on my metaphorical big-girl panties. “If I figure out who’s killing your demons within a month, you let me go.”
Languid amusement rolled across his eyes. “Why would I do that?”
“Don’t you want someone extra motivated to solve your mystery before more of your kind die?”
“I hold your fate in my hands, little witch. How much more motivated do you need to be?”
I reached deep and grabbed onto what little courage I had left. “Lookit. All I’m saying is, this is a good opportunity for both of us. You need this solved in a timely manner, and I don’t want to be working for a demon for the next sixty years.”
“Sixty years?”
I shrugged. Odds were high that I would be dead well before then, but I liked to be optimistic.
His amusement deepened.
“One week,” he said.
I tamped down the panic that made me want to scream at him. If I wanted him to negotiate, I needed to be calm and smart.
“At least make it achievable, demon. Three weeks.”
Sitri’s eyes widened at me, as if he was questioning my sanity. Samael angled his head, reluctant interest in his eyes.
“Two weeks,” he said, holding up a hand when I opened my mouth. “Find whoever is killing my demons and kill them within two weeks and you may walk free.”
The expression on his face told me clearly that arguing wouldn’t help. At least I had a chance to escape servitude.
“Fine,” I ground out. Today was Saturday. I could do this. I just had to be focused.
Sitri handed him a blade, his eyes bright with suppressed mirth. Glad someone was having fun.
“Hold out your arm,” Samael said.
My mouth went dry. I was really doing this. I glanced down at the body on the floor. The fact that I had no choice should’ve made it easier, but I’ve never done well when my back’s up against a wall.
I shoved my left arm at him before I could lose my courage. His hand was hot as he wrapped it around my wrist and I shivered. My body was unreasonably aware of his every movement. I guessed that made sense, since he held my life in his hands.
The demon pulled me close, until I was just inches from him. He smelled like burning wood in a winter cabin— the comforting smell at odds with who he actually was. Demons had an affinity with fire— something I wouldn’t forget.
Samael turned my arm over with a hum. “Usually, I use the inside of the arm. But for you, I like the idea of my mark being a little more… visible.”
I ground my teeth. The demon had decided to torture me. It wasn’t surprising really. He knew I’d be shunned the moment the Mage Council knew I was bonded to a demon, and the thought pleased him.
The pain was sharp, his hand a blur as he cut a long line down my forearm. I gasped, instinctively attempting to pull my hand away and he tightened his hold, shaking his head. His thumb danced across my inner wrist, and he handed the knife back to Sitri.
