Page 45 of Outfoxed

Then, as I had a mean streak a mile wide, I added, “If you can.”

“I see there is nothing cheap about you.”

“For years, this has been my home. Good people are dead because of those storms. If you want me to consider allying myself with you for the rest of my life, then you better make it worth my while. Tossing me into some rich family isn’t good enough. That’s what I want. You do that, and I’ll give you a year to convince me this is a good idea.”

“Unless someone takes you to the East.”

“Then you better prove to the other bidders you want me bad enough.” I shrugged. “I can’t control what others do. I can influence what you do, and you’re a quadrant master. You didn’t earn that sort of control over your magic without a lot of hard work, effort, and boundary travel. If I am taken to the East, and you don’t best the competition, then I guess you didn’t want me bad enough.”

I didn’t want it to come to that, although I worried it might become one of my only options. Until I learned more about the intricacies of what it meant to be an uncontested courtesan, I’d have to play it by ear. Understanding I had escaped the system once helped me keep my cool.

I could escape again, somehow.

Sandro considered me through narrowed eyes. “Two years, and you’ll sign now, with the understanding I will have to learn more about the nature of these storms. The Alley doesn’t have magic allowing for such things.”

I looked him in the eyes and replied, “No, but the East does, as does the South. I suppose someone in the West might be able to. They have some witches who can meddle with nature.” I doubted any one person could meddle with nature on the scale hitting Tulsa, but I hoped Sandro would figure that out on his own.

“Will my promise to do what I can be sufficient?”

I flattened my ears, but I nodded. “Yes. That is sufficient, and I will agree to a two-year term to give you the chance to convince me you’re worth my while. And if you lose to some other bounty hunter, and you can’t figure out how to win at the auction, well, that’s not my fault.”

“I have no intention of losing.”

“That doesn’t mean anything, and we both know it.”

Instead of arguing with me as most men did when I called them out on their egotistical bullshit, Sandro acknowledged my point with a scowl and a nod.

My fox approved, as did I.

Nine

That seems like a good way to piss you off.

Monday, May 4, 2043.

Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Alley.

The United States government had gone out of its way to simplify the enslavement of people, offering standardized forms for uncontested courtesans or those considering becoming one. It took an hour for the negotiated amendments to be added to the contract, which registered me as Sandro’s provisional uncontested courtesan, unavailable for auction and any proceeds of my sale into the system would go to me. According to the paperwork, I counted as his sole uncontested courtesan, the provisions applied only to the Alley, but if I was sold in any other quadrant, I would be paid my sale value and Sandro would also be paid my sale value.

As that was a Federal law, I would have additional rights due to the provisional contract.

No such law had existed when I’d first run away from home, and I wondered what other changes had happened. Most in the Alley no longer voted due to circumstances, leaving the other quadrants to squabble over who had control over the United States. More often than not, the East or West elected the latest figurehead of the government while the quadrants opted to mostly rule themselves.

The documents controlling uncontested courtesans proved the Federal government still had some sway over the quadrants.

“Why isn’t everyone using this contract?” I asked, waving the sheets of paper at Sandro, who dared to smirk at me.

“That contract is costing me twenty-five thousand, paid to the United States, but if you are sold in the East, the buyer will have to pay you and me to keep you, plus another twenty-five thousand to establish a new contract for you, and my contract will grant them the option to force me to buy you at your auction ticket price if they don’t want to pay the additional fees. And yes, I would have to pay you, too. To add to the fun, I’ll have to pay the taxes on your sale value. Your earnings from the sale are not taxed since you’re the one being sold, but that’s one of the few concessions given to courtesans. This confirms your status as an uncontested courtesan in all US quadrants, too. No other quadrant can try to change your status to something lower.”

No wonder Sandro had accepted my general challenge; as long as he had the money, he could win even if he lost and another bounty hunter got their hands on me. “This better not mean you’re expecting me to move in with you and pretend like I actually like you.”

“You will be able to come to my home and rest there whenever you need if you do not have other arrangements, as is your right as my provisional uncontested courtesan. I’ll give you my address within Asylum, and your pass will give you unrestricted access to my home. I wouldn’t venture far, as there are those in Asylum who don’t like anyone they don’t know. I don’t think that’ll be a problem for you. You aren’t the kind to like drawing too much attention to yourself.”

I shrugged. “And you’re not going to restrict my movements?”

“That seems like a good way to piss you off rather than convince you to cooperate with me. My mother will be both furious and proud of me for interfering in her attempt to choose a wife for me, and my father will be proud of me for defying my mother. If she really wanted to choose a wife for me, she should have hurried up about it.”