He sighed through his nose, eyes closing briefly. “Anything could be. Train yourself to second-guess everything.” He finally faced me. “Right now, I’m being as straightforward as possible because we need your help.”
“Me?” I squeaked, glancing at their faces. “How could I possibly help?”
“I can’t tell you that until you sign a contract that will keep you from speaking about it.” Soren put his hands into his pockets, shoulders slumping slightly. He looked oddly resigned.
I wrapped my arms around myself. “That sounds like an NDA.”
“I’m not familiar with that term.”
“You know... a nondisclosure agreement?” Forehead wrinkling, I tried to think why they’d want me to sign something like that and remembered the note. “Are you involved in stealing people?”
“Yes and no.”
The others chuckled, like he’d made a joke.
A hot sinking feeling burned in my chest. “Are you trying to confuse me?” I scowled at them, wishing I had the right words for how disgusting they were to be involved in something like that, inanyway.
“I’m not trying to make it clearer, that’s for certain.”
I narrowed my eyes. But I needed him, and he knew it. So after chewing on my lip, I caved. “What do I get in exchange for signing something like that?”
“One way or another, I’ll get you into the burrow where your family is reportedly working today.” Soren finally lowered himself into a chair, leaning forward. “Better yet, I’ll give you the information you’ll need to set them free.”
He set a single paper on the coffee table between us. “This is the contract to sign if you agree to those terms.”
Picking it up, I eyed him and the others. I hated reading under pressure, but I wasn’t about to rush through this one. Ignoring the suddenly loud sounds of breathing, little coughs, and shuffling feet, I pored over each line twice, sometimes three times, searching for hidden meaning.
Soren Velarde, referred to going forward as the Dealmaker, will ensure that Brynn Donovan, referred to from here on as the Human, gains entry to the burrow of Cosmarion Bristle the Stonemason by midnight of the Winter Solstice Ball.
Besides Soren’s last name, which I vaguely remembered seeing on our previous contract, I hadn’t learned anything or spotted any loopholes.
Sighing, I read on.
The Human will also receive information on how contracts can be terminated or renegotiated in the possible instance of needing to cancel her family’s contract.
Oh, I’d definitely need to cancel.
Soren was giving me more than I would’ve thought to ask for. My brain had obsessed over finding them. But I also needed to break them out.
But something tickled my brain.There. The timing.
I cleared my throat. “I need a pen.”
Standing, Lore leaned across the table to snatch the one they’d probably used to write the contract earlier. “Here.”
I accepted it, rolling the thin, fragile writing instrument between my fingers. It felt strange. Trying not to snap it in half accidentally, I found the words “receive information” and added, “immediately after signing.”
Soren barely glanced at it before nodding.
Was he even close enough to read it? Or would he agree to anything?
It made me wish I could find a way around the magical word vomit and add Mom to the contract.
Once signed, the Human will be unable to speak of the plans or intentions of the Dealmaker to anyone without the Dealmaker’s express permission.
That’d be that magical NDA he’d mentioned. I knew from firsthand experience with Mom’s contract how effective that would be.
In exchange for the aforementioned access to the Winter Solstice Ball and contract information, the Human will share a deliberate and detailed lie with the prince of the Hollow Court. It must be delivered exactly as requested or the deal will be null and void.
