“I will decide what to ask of you later when I have need of the favor.”
“Absolutely not. My mother said to never make deals with demons or planar creatures.”
“I’m neither of those.”
“Close enough.”
“Excellent. Then who are we going to meet next?” He straightened up and moved toward the sidewalk.
I hauled him back, and once the amber-apricot thing veiled around us, I let go. “Stop. I can’t make a deal with you. Deals with strangers always end badly. Haven’t you watched TV or movies since your imprisonment?”
“I’ve seen unfortunate outcomes, yes. But that’s not real life.”
“It’s modeled on life. I’m not stupid. If you want an open-ended deal, then you have ulterior motives.”
“Great, I’m looking forward to meeting this Harold.”
I was not up for this standoff. I closed my eyes and tipped my chin up to the clear blue of the early spring sky. I knew better than to make a deal with an unknown entity, but I needed to be in control of the meeting with Harold. Compelling Ranth to be invisible was worth something to me.
“Fine. One favor with right of refusal, but I want a favor in return, no questions asked.”
Ranth pursed his lips. “I won’t agree to that. One favor each, but each with rights of refusal.”
“This is not some haggling bazaar. No deal.”
“It was your idea, I think. Is that the transportation we require?” He looked over my shoulder at the Muni bus in the distance.
I yanked him back by the arm, the touch doing that same thing with the amber and apricot honey sandalwood. I dropped my hand and stared at it as if it had betrayed me. “Look, do this for me.”
“Do a favor for you, you mean?”
Crocus. He was good. “Yes. Do me this favor of disappearing when I need you to.” I glanced at the street. We didn’t have much time.
“Then I want the same. One favor, no refusal. It’s only fair.”
I uncurled my fists, willing myself to relax. Having this wizard get under my skin could undermine my fine work. He’d already won. The only way to safeguard this was to get two favors.
“I want a second favor, then. Same terms, no questions, but we can both refuse. So, you have two left and I have one.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.” I breathed out, hoping my soul was still wherever it should be.
“Should we shake hands?” he asked, licking his lips.
“It’s a promise made, and I expect you to hold up your end. We’re going to take that—transportation. Can you manage to stay out of sight until I call for you?”
“Isn’t that the favor?”
“It’s the deal we made for the favors. But yes, I literally just explained that.”
“Right.” He chuckled. “I can do that.” Purple smoke came out of his skin.
“No! Not here. Not like that,” I said, pulling him deeper into the alley. His muscled arms slipped around me like it was the natural effect of being close, and I batted them off as the amber scent rose from his skin.
“You can’t disappear so close to the street, or people will notice. Hang on a minute.” I stepped out from the alley and looked around. Two pedestrians were way up at the corner. On the other side, three had already passed us.
I stepped back. “Okay, quick, do it.”
