For that reason, most of the witches I’d known in the past had been very careful about properly disposing of things like hair from the shower drain or fingernail clippings or anything else that could’ve been used in dark spellwork against them. The practice had fallen out of favor after most of the covens were forced underground. I didn’t know any witches today that still followed it.
“Do you have any idea what’s hunting her?” I asked.
“Many things are hunting her, boy. Always have been, always will be. Why do you think she’s so valuable to me?”
“You don’t believe in that prophecy bullshit.”
Sebastian took another sip, then stroked his goatee. “Doesn’t matter. Other people do. And as long as people believe she’s packing that kind of mojo, they’ll hunt her. Everyone wants power, Ronan.”
“Like you?”
“Well, I have power. I’m simply preventing it from falling into the wrong hands. Not to mention carrying out my end of a binding contract.”
“Gray doesn’t even know it exists.” I shoved a hand through my hair, knowing the argument was pointless, but trying again anyway. “If I could tell her the truth, maybe she’d have a shot at protecting herself.”
“You know the rules, oathbound.”
Yeah, I knew the rules. Memorized them. Every contract, every soul, every demonic order may as well have been tattooed to the inside of my eyelids. Didn’t make them go down any easier.
“Break the contract,” I pushed. A risk, sure. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t just stand around with my dick in my hand while Gray’s eternal future went up in smoke over some bullshit deal she had nothing to do with.
Sebastian rose from his chair, crossing back to the bar in search of the ice bucket. “How long have you been in this business, Ronan?”
“Long enough to know there’s always a loophole.”
“Not this time.” He dropped a few cubes into his glass, then topped it off with more booze. “Here’s the problem as I see it, son. You’re allowing your emotions to cloud your reasoning, and those emotions are confusing you on a very important point: You’re not human.”
The comment wasn’t surprising, but it still stung. “Iwas.”
Sebastian frowned, deepening the pits in his cheeks. “This again? Ronan, you really should see someone about these issues. There comes a time in every man’s life when he must stop blaming his adult problems on a shitty childhood. After hundreds of years, I’d expect you to reach that conclusion on your own.”
I was smart enough not to take that particular bait.
“There is no loophole,” he said again. “Make me a better offer, and we’ll talk, but there’s no loophole.”
“Fine. You want a life? Take mine.”
“I already own your ass.” He tipped his glass back, polishing off the drink. When he lowered his glass again, bourbon dripped from his shitty goatee. “Lighten up, boy. The contract isn’t all bad—it offers her certain protections. She’ll be my responsibility soon enough, and you can move on to a fresh new deal. Help me get through some of this backlog.”
“You’re assuming she’ll die soon.”
“Sources tell me she’s getting closer every day.”
I felt my eyes go black, my rational mind shutting down, my body preparing to lunge.I will tear out your throat, Prince...
Sebastian must’ve sensed my intentions, because when he looked at me again, his eyes were glowing red.
A silent fucking threat that got the job done every time.
He was the boss after all. The master.
“Now, if that’s all, I have other pressing matters to attend, like ordering a new desk and sending you the bill.” He opened the door, dismissing me as easily as he’d dismissed the woman.
“My best to Gray,” he said as I walked out, his demeanor as calm and cool as a desert oasis. “Oh, and Ronan?”
I turned to look at him over my shoulder, already knowing what was coming next. He’d said it every fucking time we parted ways. Two centuries of that shit?
No wonder I had issues.
