His wings opened fully, his eyes turning white with anger. “Who do you think you are? I made a deal with the Oniguros to—”
“I’m sorry,” I chuckled, a small flame winding through my fingers like a snake. “Have I not introduced myself?”
I took a step towards the raging seraph, grabbing him by the shirt as I lowered my lips to his ear. “I’m Ronan Oniguro. You made a deal with me, asshole.”
I let him go, relishing the tremble that ran unbidden through his body. Fuck, I missed this. Maybe bounty hunting wasn’t a perfect system, but there really was no greater feeling than having a disgusting worm wriggling on your hook.
It was a much better high than anything I’d ever felt with bruum.
“And as an alpha who’s recently found his mate, I gotta say—tricking a man to betray the woman he loves just doesn’t sit right with me. But we were promised some serious runics for this job, and I will collect. How much was I supposed to ask Fontaine for, again?”
The seraph mumbled under his breath.
“Louder, son.”
“Two hundred thousand.”
I whistled. “A nice chunk of change. Now, either I see those zeroes in our bank account by morning, or this?” I lifted my phone, shaking it in the air. “Gets sent to Fontaine and his blushing bride. Got it?”
His hands curled into shaking fists at his sides, but he did not meet my gaze. “Got it.”
I patted him sharply against his cheek.
“Good boy. Now, get the fuck outta my club.”
45
Nat 20
Sage
Captain’s Log, Cycle 52
You’ve made contact with the Striogians again, hoping to foster a more peaceful alliance. Despite their superior technological advancements, they are an emotionally primitive species, finding offense in expressions and movements that your people have the nuance and intelligence to interpret more thoughtfully. You must never meet their eye, speak in loud or harsh tones…
Vorthain stood behind Victor, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his robes.
“I… am sorry,” Victor said through gritted teeth, his voice strained.
“For what?” Vorthain added.
It was almost embarrassing to see Victor reduced like this. So neutered, so… de-fanged. It lessened the fear I held for the vampire, while the unease and dread that drowned me whenever the dark priest was present only worsened.
Even if he had been the one to save me from Victor’s attack, I did not trust him.
Victor sighed deeply. “I am sorry for hurting you.”
The clock on the mantel ticked, the sound echoing in the silent room.
“Um, okay.”
He didn’t mean it. He would do it again.
“Now, Sage,” Vorthain said, moving closer to where I stood. “I feel your resistance. Your mistrust. Why do you fight against him and my teachings?”
Probably because they were kraken shit.
Vorthain crossed the room and stood in front of me, his hands around my head. If I had to guess, his eyes were closed, even though I couldn’t see them from under his hood.
