“No. On that, I will not be swayed.”
She gritted her teeth. Her hopes hadn’t been high, but it still pissed her off. “Fine. But you’ll let the potion that blocks my magic wear off, and you won’t give me more. I’m a witch. I want to practice while I’m here. Even if I can’t use it to escape, I still want to use my time wisely.”
“Agreed,” he said more readily than she’d expected. She supposed it made sense they could relate in that, since he was obviously obsessed with his own spells and practice. One didn’t earn a title liketheNecromancer for nothing.
“And if something goes wrong with your spell,” she added, “or it permanently fails, or something unexpected happens to you or your lair, then I’m free to leave.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, she swore she saw a flicker of approval in his gaze. Apparently, he was enjoying their negotiations. “If I give you permission to go, then you may go. Remember, your blood has value to me. If there’s any chance of you being killed or seriously injured, I will take steps to prevent it.”
She ground her teeth. “And what happens if your spell permanently fails?”
“It will not. But if it does, you’re free to go.”
“Fine,” she said, because why not. She’d already come this far. None of his conditions were worth rotting in solitary confinement underground for.
“Lastly,” he said, “when I do give you leave to return to Earth—unharmed, as agreed—you will never speak of my experiments or why you were taken to anyone. Even indirectly, by hints, symbolism, or inference.”
“What am I supposed to tell people then?”
He shrugged lightly. “Be creative.”
“Fine. But people are going to think I fucking died.”
He looked blandly at her.
She shook her head. Obviously, he didn’t care.
“Shall we swear in blood?” He lifted a hand, and she couldn’t help swallowing at the sight of those long black claws.
She nodded and then flinched as he gouged them into his own palm. Blood welled and he didn’t so much as blink.
“On my blood, I vow it,” he said, speaking the simple yet powerful words of a binding blood contract.
Once they both swore, neither of them would be capable of breaking the terms they’d agreed upon. If he tried to kill her, he would find himself unable to strike the blow. If she tried to tell anyone about him, the words would stick in her throat.
He pulled a rag from his coat pocket and clenched it in his fist to soak up the remaining blood. Like he’d done this a thousand times. She supposed he had. Then he reached across the cell, holding out his other hand.
Swallowing, she stretched out her palm. She expected him to gouge her with his claws the same way he’d done to himself, but instead, he used the dagger to carefully prick the tip of her finger. A single drop of blood welled around the blade.
She frowned at him.
“I told you I wouldn’t waste your blood,” he said. “Now speak your vow, and let’s be done with it. I have work to do.”
She did, and he released her hand, wiping the dagger on the rag. He climbed to his feet and sheathed the weapon at his hip. Fuck, she’d forgotten how tall he was. He positively towered over her.
Without another word, he spun and stalked out of the cell, leaving her to scramble wearily to her feet and hurry after him or get left behind. Maybe she had to put her revenge escape plans to rest for now, but at least she was getting out of this dungeon.
ROOMWITHAVIEW
TO HER SURPRISE, MURMUR REMOVED HIS COAT ANDgave it to Suyin to wear as a disguise, before hustling her through his lair like she was escaping the paparazzi. Which she kind of was, considering she was a living mortal in Hell—not something demons saw every day.
The coat was so large on her, it swept the floor, and the oversized hood completely covered her face. She wrapped the massive thing around her like a blanket, surprised at the softness of the heavy black leather.
She cradled her bags of apples and carrots and the remaining two water bottles like the precious cargo they were, and she tried to keep up with Murmur’s long strides without stumbling. Sure, she’d eaten and had some water, but she was going to need more than that to get back to full strength.
She was dimly aware of following Murmur down a long underground tunnel, climbing a winding rough-hewn staircase, and then passing through a high-ceilinged hall. Any time they crossed paths with other demons, all of varying shapes and sizes, the creatures folded nearly in half, chanting “Master”until they were out of sight. With their noses practically hitting the ground, it made it easy for Suyin to go unnoticed.
Murmur ignored them entirely. Either he wasn’t into bowing and scraping, or he was just as coldly indifferent to his servants as he was to her. The notion was oddly reassuring. At least she wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of that empty stare.
