“Yes,” he said. Up close, his eyes were a truly shocking shade of blue, all the more so under the refracted light of so many chandeliers. “In exchange, I ask for your word that you will not run away, no matter what happens.”
“My word?” she said, surprised. “But why are you so worried I might try to run away?”
“Because this night will be difficult. I was sent here to collect you, which is my primary goal, but while I’m here I intend to complete certain tasks, in return for which I will be absolved of some rather large debts.” A pause. “Do you frighten easily?”
Alizeh bristled at this. “You insult me even by asking the question.”
“Good. Then I ask for your word.”
“You will not have it.”
His eyes narrowed. “I beg your pardon?”
“I will only grant such a request if you first swear you won’t harm her.”
“Who? The loud girl?”
“Swear you won’t hurt her, or use magic on her—”
“Oh, come now, you ask for too much.”
“You want my word I will not run away?” Alizeh said. “Well, I need to be able to trust you. Givemeyour word that you will not harm her. That is my condition.”
“Very well,” he said bitterly. “But I must warn you—if you go back on your promise, there will be repercussions.”
“What kinds of repercussions?”
“I will not be nice to you.”
Alizeh laughed. “Do you mean to imply that you are being nice to me now?”
“I will come find you at half past the hour,” he said, scowling. “I must escort you to our transport before midnight, else our ride will fall asleep, and getting things running again will cost us a great deal of time.”
“Our ride will fall asleep? Don’t you mean the driver?”
He ignored this. “Do fetch the girl, and quickly, for I fear she will be difficult to corral.”
Alizeh frowned. “And what will you be doing?”
“As I mentioned, I’ve a bit of business to settle. It shouldn’t take long.”
“A bit of business?” Alizeh felt a flutter of nerves at that. “With Hazan, you mean?”
The stranger blinked. “Hazan?”
“Yes—I have a great many questions for him. Where is he now, do you know? Will he make it to the ball?”
The stranger’s eyes widened, then narrowed, not unlike the focus on a telescope. “I don’t know.”
“Oh.” Alizeh bit her lip. “Well, will y—”
“For now, just fix upon finding that girl. If you need help getting anywhere, your shoes will deliver you where you need to go.”
“If that’s true, why must you be the one to take me to my transport?”
“Because it’smytransport,” he said in a flash of anger, “and you’re only meant to borrow it.”
She recoiled at that, at the venom in his voice.
