Distance.
We need to keep some distance.
“So what?” I ask. “If we work together, we split the winnings fifty-fifty? Right down the middle?”
“I’m amenable to that plan if you are.”
I hum thoughtfully, still not entirely ready to agree, but tempted. So tempted.
And Callum seems to know it.
His eyes brighten, and he leans back in. “What will you do with your portion of the bounty, should we be the ones to win it?”
Good play. Sweetening the deal by making me remember why I got into this whole mess in the first place.
Maybe I don’t exactly owe him an answer, but it’s not like I’m going to use my winnings for any nefarious purpose.
“Easy,” I say. “I’m going to use it to finally have some goddessdamned stability in my life. Funny thing about leaving the coven after spending your entire childhood there: it doesn’t exactly set you up for success in the real world. The bounty will give me the chance to start over. Figure out where I go from here.”
He nods as if he understands exactly what I’m talking about, again with that keen stare that makes me feel seen in a way I’m deeply, deeply uncomfortable with.
I stand from my seat and cross to the small window at the front of the room, overlooking the street. I’m not sure what time it is, but it still seems early. Even at this hour, though, there are already plenty of demons out.
I watch them moving up and down the street, in and out of buildings, going about their mornings with no idea what’s happening in Faerie, no idea about the little drama playing out up here.
I turn back to face Callum, rest my hands on the windowsill behind me, and tilt my chin up with more confidence than I feel.
“What about you? What are you going to use your half for?”
Callum closes down immediately. His smile disappears. His eyes go dull and half-hooded. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“The same,” he says gruffly. “A better life.”
Whatever the real answer is, I’m absolutely certain it’s not the same as mine. There’s a non-zero chancehemight actually be using his half of the winnings for some nefarious purpose, but by the guarded expression on his face, I’ve got a feeling that asking him about it is going to get me absolutely nowhere.
Still, it’s worth a shot.
“Doesn’t really seem fair.”
“What doesn’t seem fair?”
“That I’ve spent so much of the last day pouring my damn heart out, and I can’t even get a straight answer from you.”
“I—” He opens his mouth, stops short. “It’s… complicated.”
“Complicated in what way?”
“Does it matter?” He averts his eyes. “For the hunt, does it matter?”
“No,” I murmur. “I suppose it doesn’t.”
Why should I care? I’ve made it clear enough I’m not jumping feet-first into this wholematesthing. I’m not out here planning our whole life together or looking at him with big, dopey stars in my eyes.
I don’t owe him anything.
He doesn’t owe me anything.
Callum sighs. “There are… debts I have to pay off.”
