“Brad has a plan, one that could potentially put us so far ahead of Valefar on an economic level that we could probablyjust pay them to go away,” Lucareoth said reluctantly, also watching the dagger with horrified fascination. Bel’aliol slowly drew the entire scheme out of him—each question Lucareoth desperately didn’t want his boss to ask drew Bel’aliol to the relevant detail like a magnet.
“Interesting.” Bel’aliol finally sat back in his chair. “For once, I agree with the bloodsuckers—I see no reason that shouldn’t work. It will take too much time to ramp up and there’s too much bad blood with Valefar to call off the war, of course. But it should give us a fantastic advantage after we emerge victorious. Oh, and the double-charging for the Mart-of-Walls was a nice touch.”
Lucareoth slumped, his eyes dull with stress.
Bel’aliol turned his attention to Morgan. She tried not to flinch. “And your progress?”
“I thought it would be best to deal with the rival before my quota? Because I’m… a… team player?” Morgan said helplessly.
He gave her the look she deserved. After a very long moment, during which a drop of icy sweat slowly dripped from the nape of her neck all the way down the length of her spine, he snorted. “I don’t give a shit about your feelings, just whether they affect my results. And may I remind you that if you were to perish in the coming conflict, you would end up right here? You see, I’ve taken a personal interest in your case. You seem to require motivation—would this serve?”
He tapped what she had taken as a desk decoration, what looked like a cross between a crystal and a lightbulb. It was a soul cage, she suddenly realized. Nicely situated where he could gloat for the term of her contract.
He leaned forward. “Of course, if you’re finding yourselfstruggling to find a replacement, I would be happy to alter the bargain slightly.”
She swallowed against a mouth gone dry. “How so?”
“You clearly have reservations about this soul market scheme,” Bel’aliol leaned forward. “If you can ensure its success, I will allow the first full soul’s worth of slivers to count toward your obligation.”
The rush of relief left her breathless and ashamed. She shouldn’t want this, she knew, and yet—she could stop. She wouldn’t have to damn anyone she knew. She wouldn’t have to fully damn anyone at all. “You really want this to go through.”
“If it works, it has the potential to completely disrupt the soul industry,” Bel’aliol said, his dark eyes glittering beneath his horned brow. “And if demons love anything, it’s disruption.”
She didn’t actually believe that was true. She didn’t think he’d enjoy having his world disrupted at all. But other people’s—oh yes, she could see how he’d revel in it. Not the profit alone, but for the knowledge that he had so powerful an impact on so many lives. Was there a limit to his wanting? She wasn’t sure there was.
What would Gisele say when Morgan had to tell her what had happened? Actually, she knew. She gathered her courage. “What do I get out of this?”
Bel’aliol raised his brows, the horns jutting at her. “You’ve already received your payment in passage back to your own realm.”
“And that’s the equivalent of Brad’s rewards? You never seem to say no to him.”
“If you’d like to increase your debt, you’re certainly more than welcome.”
“I was thinking more a finder’s fee,” she said, trying to sound calm. Businesslike. How would Kelly handle this? She had something Bel’aliol wanted, now was the time to negotiate. “If this is really going to open up an entirely new business line for you, even as you remove your rivals from your territory, surely that’s increased the total value of my contribution well beyond one minor commute.”
He snorted. “Your pet fancies herself a businesswoman, Lucareoth. What were you thinking, human? Same package as Brad—wealth and power and fame? Looking to betray and supplant your boss?”
For a moment, she pictured herself with wealth and power. She didn’t even want that much. Security. Maybe an apartment with less of a commute and a little more closet. A dishwasher. An in-unit washer and dryer. Maybe even a doorman? But would it stop there? Once she had it, she’d see a bigger apartment, a better one. Nicer clothes, dinners out at nice restaurants. A getaway in the Hamptons, followed by a house in the Hamptons. A senator or two. All of it paid for in slivers of other people’s afterlives they wouldn’t even know they’d given away.
No, she didn’t want that. Not at that price. But. What if Gisele were right and she could improve things? For everyone? If it were going to happen anyway?
“Does it have to be for me?” she asked.
“Looking to buy favors for someone else?” he seemed mildly intrigued. “It would depend. And how would this person feel, knowing you sacrificed souls for their benefit?”
“I was thinking something wider spread.”
“Be more specific.”
What would be the best use for this? She should havethought this out in more detail. “What if I wanted to, say, pass some legislation? That protected people?”
Bel’aliol stared at her for a long moment. Then he tipped his head back and laughed, a booming sound that resonated painfully in her bones. “You’re trying to be an altruist? A startup marketer? Oh, that’s adorable.”
“I took the job I could get,” she said defensively. Like she had to explain herself to a literal demon. “That doesn’t mean I don’t care about people.”
“No.” He settled back in his chair.
“Just no?” She stared, baffled. “Why not? You give Brad whatever ridiculous thing he wants.”
