“No.”
Kizros said it so plainly, even Aofe had to blink as he continued to position her so he was between her and Tholvich.
The blue demon cocked his head, then held a hand over his heart. “That hurts, Kizros. But you know, I’m a decent demon. I came over with an opportunity for you, an amends of sorts, for the way things ended between us. Perhaps my offer will have you reconsidering.”
Tholvich produced the thick envelope from his pocket, then approached slowly with it held out. Kizros watched warily before snatching it, then glared at Tholvich. The blue demon took one step back, which clearly wasn’t enough because Kizros didn’t move. Tholvich rolled his eyes, then took another two steps back. Satisfied, Kizros slid a claw under the seal and pulled out the papers.
Aofe couldn’t see over Kizros’s shoulder to read, but as his tail went from loose to more and more agitated as he read, she imagined it was not pleasant.
“Is this a fucking joke?”
Even Attie whimpered at the cold fury in Kizros’s question.
Tholvich, however, looked delighted as a cruel grin spread across his face. “You saw the seal. These are official documents. I can give you more time to read, if you’d like, but if you just want to cut to the deal, sign that last page. I’ve already filled in mine.”
Kiz crumpled the pages in his fist before slamming them down on the desk. “You’re sick. Get the fuck out of my shop.”
Anger flashed in Tholvich’s glare, there and gone in an instant, before he jerked his chin toward Aofe. “Come on, Kiz. You’ve had this shop for how many years? Gave it everything you were worth and more. Don’t lose it over that pathetic thing. It’s a more than generous offer and you know it. I take over her work sponsorship, and you get the business back on its feet.”
Cold dread slithered down Aofe’s spine. Her eyes fell again to the parchment in Kizros’s fist. Despite how easily his claws had pierced the edges of the paper, the words within felt more restrictive than the rune cuff at her wrist.
You’re a burden.
A financial disaster.
She knew now, without a doubt, that Kizros would sooner burn his shop down than let Tholvich or any other demon take over her sponsorship. But this was the demon realm, one she really should have been studying up on. If a contract like that could be made and signed, who was to say there wasn’t a loophole somewhere that could be taken advantage of? What if there were performance stipulations to her sponsorship that put her in violation of the terms? Shestill didn’t know if she had a salary, let alone a means to exist somewhere without Kizros’s help.
“This is disgusting,” Kizros snarled, snapping her out of her worry. He wadded up the paper, making a show of throwing it in the wastebasket at his feet before pointing toward the door. “Get the fuck out and never come back.”
Tholvich stood there, nostrils flared and lip peeled back to show his fangs, but then he straightened, trading it for a sleazy smile.
“I tell you what,” he said, his backward steps to the door calm and measured. “Sleep on it. I’ll bring another copy when you’ve had time to realize this is the best chance you’ve got to keep your store alive.”
“If I see you again, I’m calling the guard. You’re not welcome here.”
Near Tholvich’s head, Tim rattled in his pot, which seemed to urge the blue demon to finally yank the door open and leave.
The door had barely closed when Kizros spun in place, devastation on his face. “Aofe, I would never,neverconsider it.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to report him. I know we hate violence, but there are other ways to make sure he never comes back. You are safe with me, Aofe, I promise.”
“Kiz, I know.” She leaned against his chest, letting go of one crutch to press a palm to his burning cheek. Underneath her touch, he was heaving angrily, but it slowedas his arms came around to help support her. “Do you think I couldn’t see how you didn’t actually break the seal? Or that, in your anger, you only crumpled the pages instead of destroying them? Even your claws didn’t tamper with any of the document.”
He blinked down at her, and then a smile tipped one side of his mouth. “Fuck, I thought he was going to notice. I was worried you might not.”
“You outsmarted him.” She nodded toward the wastebasket. “Can you use that?”
Kizros nodded, tail retrieving the papers before he spread them out on the desk. “This is what he’s exploiting.”
Aofe leaned over to read.
If a human should come to harm or be in an unsafe environment while under the care of their Sponsor, they shall be removed from said Sponsorship and placed in a new position of similar nature.
“He wants you to say your failing shop is the reason I’m unsafe?”
“Again, the shop is not failing,” Kizros corrected. “There’s a place for a councilor to sign, but no name. I have a feeling he knows someone willing to sign off on it since one of the first clauses in this shitty contract is to bypass a council decision for reassignment.”
