Bathin straightened as if everything in him was suddenly awake and laser focused. Then he turned, all fire and heat and wide shoulders and muscular body crowding into herspace.
“You’ll do what, exactly? For me.” His voice was more rumble thanwords.
For a moment, Myra’s eyes lost that edge and something else filled them. Desire? Lust?Surprise?
The look he was giving her should have had a combustible warning onit.
“For Delaney,” Myra said all soft and breathy. “Notyou.”
He smiled, lifted one hand as if to touch her face, as if to stroke herskin.
And never got the chance. Myra took one strong step back, her cheeks flushing red, her eyes cool and hardagain.
Her breathing was a little faster than a moment ago, but that could just be adrenaline fromanger.
It wasn’t adrenaline fromanger.
“I’ll offer the same terms as Delaney,” shesaid.
“One favor, to be collected within the year. I’ll do what you want as long as it doesn’t break any of Ordinary’s rules or laws, nor go against my moral code or freewill.”
“You added a fewterms.”
“I don’t give anything awayeasily.”
His eyebrow quirked. “Iknow.”
Pretty sure he liked that about her. Alot.
“One favor, due to me, upon my request, in so much as it doesn’t break Ordinary’s rules or laws, nor go against your moral code or free will.Correct?”
“Wait,” Isaid.
She nodded, the color still high on her cheeks as she stared up athim.
“Yes.” She squared her shoulders as if steeling herself against the pull of hischarisma.
“In exchange, you will find Ryder now, and bring him here, to us in this room, whole in body and mind, and in no way bound to you nor any other creature, person, orthing.”
“Wait,” I saidagain.
“Done.” And then Bathin wasgone.
“You did not just bargain with that demon,” I nearlyshouted.
She shrugged like it was nothing. It wasn’t nothing. “One of us was goingto.”
“Not one of us,me.”
“You already gave up your soul. It was my turn to do something. You aren’t the only one looking after this town, you know. And all I traded was a smallfavor.”
I glared at her for a minute, but it was like trying to stare down a brickwall.
“Ryder,” I said while I scowled at my sister. “Bathin’s coming to get you and bring youhome.”
I waited. There was no answer, not even the ragged breathing I’d gotten usedto.
“Ryder?”
