AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How did I get here?… Andwhyin thehellam I not drunk?
I take a few seconds to realize a vibration is coming from the pocket of my velvet trousers.
Boss Akron is calling you
Why is he calling me?
I press to answer.
The Warlock’s gruff, masculine voice conveys his anger from thousands of miles away.“Sprigg, I know you are out cavorting. Are you drunk?”
I really wish I could say yes. “Surprisingly not, sir. But I’m hoping to be in the near future. What do you want?” I grimace at how harsh my voice sounds.
But, to be honest, he’s calling me on my vacation, so he deserves it.
“You need to come back,”he grunts.
“What?” I blink and look at the velvet foliage drooping low in front of me. I study the veins of the leaves, trying to figure out where I had passed out.
“Nathaniel, focus. I need you back here. I got a call from my contact in the Winter Court. There will be an arrival in about three hours. They said you were the only one who could receive the shipment.”
The large toadstool to the south tells me that I am in the part of the forest which had been used by the Faun Dancers yesterday. The grass is trampled and shredded from their hooves. “I—”
“Don’t even think about saying no. I know I’m cutting your vacation short, so I will make you a new deal. You can return right after this and have as much time off as you want, full salary.”
I pause. My hand traces the buttons on the side of my FaePhone. It is a very attractive offer.
But I have something else in mind.
“No,” I say.
“Sprigg, you know how much this made your career. Keeping my contacts happy is vital. I—”
I trace the silk joggers that end in cloven hooves. I don’t even remember putting this outfit on, but I must’ve channeled the dancers from last night. Hence my location. I suck in a deep breath. “I don’t want paid time off.”
For him, everything is about money. To be fair, money is important. My quality of life is better with enough money to eat, and to pay for a proper apartment with an AI system. But I have more than enough money now.
More isn’t going to make me happy. It won’t remove the panic attacks and the loss of feeling in my toes and fingertips.
More money won’t bring her back.
“Okay, out with it. What do you want?”
My Fae instincts flare at the sound of desperation in my employer’s voice. He’s lucky I’m in the mood for a deal. “You can’t say no, or I won’t come.”
“… I’m not giving you my company,”he blurts out. He speaks so quickly, it takes a second for my mead-addled brain to process what he is saying.
Once the full message is received, I smile. He is squirming. “It has nothing to do with money. But you have to promise me. I know you can lie, so our contract must be bound through magic.”
Several seconds pass before he lets out a long breath. Deviousness is the song in my blood as it rushes through my veins and makes my cheeks hot. It almost feels like generations of Fae share a raucous toast in Fortuna’s Afterlife. I won’t be the first one to break here.
“Well?” I say with a grin that feels feral.
“Fine. I promise,”he chokes out.
My chest puffs up. “Promise what?” I drawl.
An irritated sigh comes from the receiver.“I will give you whatever you want as long as it doesn’t involve money or taking over my company.”
