“Someone who owes me. Or rather… someone who wants something… something I know how to get.”
My eyes widened in surprise before I asked the all-important question,
“What kind of someone?”
“Another Enforcer,” he said, and before I could protest, he continued,
“One who collects vows like coins. He rules a place called the Vault. It offers protection, as long as your debts are paid of course.”
My pulse skidded as this didn’t exactly sound like a better option, but more like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
“And these debts… what if they aren’t paid?” I dared to ask, and Bo’s mouth thinned.
“Then you pay another way.”
I swallowed hard at this.
“So, what does he want from you?”
“A relic,” he said.
“Something he’s been chasing for longer than I’ve been alive. Something even he can’t just take.”
“And you know where it is,” I assumed, now getting back to my feet, ready to hear the next part of this plan.
“I know where to start looking,” he replied, before adding,
“But it’ll take time. Days, at least.”
My mind raced, hope tangling with dread.
“And until then?”
Bo met my gaze, unapologetic.
“You play along.”
I let out a weak, incredulous laugh.
“That’s your plan. Play along with Hell’s judge who already thinks he owns me.”
“I didn’t say I liked it, but it’s the only move that doesn’t end with you dead or locked somewhere you can’t escape,” he said, and I dragged my hands down my face, exhaustion flooding in now that the adrenaline was burning out.
“And if he decides to throw me in some kind of supernatural prison anyway?” I asked after Bo’s words settled heavily between us. I studied him then, really studied him. The goblin who had crashed into my life like a curse and somehow become my only remaining chance to get out of this.
“A Prison can always be broken out of.” Well, he certainly had a point there.
“And you’re sure… You’re sure he doesn’t want to hurt me?” I asked quietly. But Bo didn’t answer right away, and my nerves were at a knife’s edge by the time he finally did.
“I think if he wanted to cause you harm, he would have done so already. So, whatever he does want from you, I know it isn’t death.”
That should have been comforting.
It wasn’t.
I pressed my palms into my eyes, the pressure barely denting the thudding behind them.
“What am I supposed to do? He showed up at my work. He wants me to work with his people. What if this is just a ploy to get me alone and then…” I broke off, swallowing hard.
