Then I watched it happen.
His head twisted, shifting, bone and skin warping as his human features gave way to something far more monstrous. In an instant, his jaw expanded into that of a shark, opening wide as he snapped at the tentacles wrapped around his neck and upper body.
Octavius hissed, his grip faltering for half a second, just enough for Hugo to wrench against it, twisting and trying to break free. But he was one shark against eight tentacles, and I had to hope Octavius had the upper hand—or hands,in this case.
“You think this matters?” Hugo spat, struggling against the hold. “She signed a contract in blood.”
“A contract she was tricked into signing!” Octavius shot back.
“She still signed it, so therefore she belongs to Zavier, and right now she temporarily belongs to me,” Hugo continued, his grin cruel even as he fought against his hold. “And if you think I’m the last one coming to collect her, you’re wrong.”
Octavius didn’t move. He didn’t loosen his grip even a fraction as he listened.
“Kill me if you want, but that won’t destroy the contract,” Hugo continued. “More will come. Zavier will send others, and they’ll tear through anything standing between him and getting her back. Do you really want to throw your life away over a pathetic little human like her?”
Something in me cracked at that, a quiet, terrifying realization settling in.What if he was right?What if this didn’t end here? What if it kept happening, again and again, and I was never truly safe until one of them finally succeeded? Until Octavius got hurt... because of me.
“Stop!” I screamed, and both of them stilled. I drew in a breath, forcing myself to steady before I spoke again. My gaze locked onto Hugo. “You’re my temporary owner,” I said, wincing slightly at the words. “Is that right?”
Hugo’s grin returned instantly, satisfied despite the way Octavius still had him pinned. “That would be correct.”
“Fine,” I said, lifting my chin. “Then let me offer you a deal.”
“No.” Octavius’s voice cut in immediately. “You are not making any more deals with people like him.”
“Let me handle this,” I said firmly, not looking away from Hugo.
A tense beat stretched between us. Then, reluctantly, Octavius didn’t try to stop me again, and I could only hope that meant he trusted me enough to know what I was doing.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I said, and his eyes lit with interest, exactly as I knew they would. “A game of poker. Twenty rounds. Quick hands. If I win, the contract gets ripped up right here, and it becomes null and void.”
“Why the hell would I make a deal with you?” he scoffed.
“What, too scared you’ll lose, Hugo?” I shot back, letting a hint of a smirk slip through. “Even Zavier took my challenge.”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “And look where that got you.”
“Afraid you’re not as good as Zavier?” I challenged. “Aren’t you the one always bragging about how you should be running the den? That you’re the best there is? And yet here you are, too afraid to take a bet even Zavier accepted.” I tilted my head, letting the words sink in. “If you’re as good as you think you are, then you shouldn’t have any problem beating me at this game. Just like he did.”
I kept my expression controlled, even as my heart pounded, carefully stroking his ego and hoping he’d take the bait.
After a long silence, Hugo tilted his head slightly, considering it. “And if I win?”
I swallowed hard. “Then I'll go back with you quietly.”
Behind me, Octavius went completely still, and I could feel it without even looking at him. The anger, the worry, all of it simmered just beneath the surface. For a split second, I almost faltered, wondering if I was imagining it or if I had really come to know himthat well that I was starting to sense his emotions the way he could sense mine. Either way, I pushed forward.
“You won’t have to force me, and I’ll make sure no one tries to stop you.” I glanced back at Octavius then, meeting his gaze, silently urging him to trust me and to let me handle this.
Hugo’s eyes flicked between us, as if weighing every word. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“We bind it in blood. You can add it as another clause to the contract, since you’re the acting benefactor.”
A slow, pleased smile spread across his face. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“No,” I admitted honestly, already moving toward the table, my heart pounding even as my steps remained controlled. “But what do I have left to lose?” I reached for the deck, forcing my hands to stay steady. “So, let’s get the game started, shall we?”
Behind me, I could still feel Octavius’s concern, but he didn’t stop me, and that trust was exactly what I needed. Because this time, I wasn’t running. I was fighting for my life with nothing but my mind and a deck of cards, and I could only hope it would be enough.
