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“Looks like you’ve brought some friends, Blackwood,” one of the witches remarked, eyeing Tori, Kyle, and Audrey with unconcealed annoyance.
“He is a hunter,” another witch said, eyes wide with suspicion as she glared at Kyle. “And those two are shifters. Why are they all here together?”
“Ex-hunter, actually. I’m Kyle,” Kyle said, his tone firm yet respectful.
It was time to lay our cards on the table.
“I’m not here to sell out the other wolves,” I said bluntly. “In fact, I’m here to make a deal with your coven. One that involves never helping any of the hunting factions ever again.”
The witches shared amused glances with one another before erupting into fits of laughter. “This one’s got balls,” one of the witches said, wiping a feigned tear of amusement from her eye. “I can’t believe you’d suggest that we should give up our primary source of income. How preposterous.”
They turned away and ignored us, chatting among themselves about their latest shopping sprees and extravagant vacations, making it clear that they weren’t taking our proposal seriously. Tori’s irritation mounted—I could feel it through our bond, and I couldn’t blame her. These witches were more concerned about maintaining their lavish lifestyles than the lives they were putting at risk.
“Look.” I raised my voice to be heard above their chatter. “I understand this is a significant change for you, but think about the lives you could save by refusing to help the hunters any longer. We can offer you something of equal value in return for your cooperation.”
The witches quieted and turned bored gazes toward me. “What would that be, Blackwood?” their apparent leader asked,her eyes narrowing. “What could you possibly bring to the table that would make us even consider your offer?”
“Financial security,” I said. “I am prepared to offer you a substantial sum of money and assets, but in return, I insist that each of you give me your blood oath that you will never support any hunting organizations in the future.”
For a moment, they appeared to consider my offer, but then they cackled. “Do you really think we’d give up our livelihoods for a small amount of money?” one witch scoffed.
“Think about it this way,” I pressed on. “You’ll be set for life, as will any loved ones you leave behind. The hunters might pay well, but never like this.”
They said nothing more, just turned and resumed their conversation as if we weren’t even there. A clear dismissal. Fuck, it really wasn’t looking good for us.
Then, Audrey spoke up. “Ladies,” she said, her voice smooth as silk and laced with charm as she studied her nails nonchalantly. “I overheard your conversation about that delightful little boutique in Paris. I must say, their selection of designer shoes is to die for, though personally, I like Balenciaga myself.”
The atmosphere shifted as Audrey slipped seamlessly into the witches’ banter, speaking their high-end language with ease. They exchanged excited nods of agreement, momentarily forgetting their standoffish demeanor.
“Ah, and don’t get me started on the wine,” Audrey continued. “I am a sucker for a well-aged Bordeaux.” She paused, allowing an appreciative murmur to ripple through the group. “Have any of you been to that exclusive nail salon on the Champs-Élysées? It’s nearly impossible to get an appointment, but the artists there are truly talented. Last manicure I had there, they were using eighteen-carat-gold varnish. Absolutely divine. If you can, ask for Mademoiselle Émilie. Worth everypenny,” she emphasized, her words painting a vivid picture of luxury and indulgence.
The witches were captivated, their earlier resistance melting away thanks to Audrey’s effortless charisma. Even Tori seemed impressed, her frustration easing as she watched her friend work her magic.
“Since we’re all clearly women of refined taste,” Audrey said, flashing a dazzling smile, “why don’t we give Ridge here a chance to present his offer? I have a feeling it might be just what you’re looking for.”
They hesitated for only a moment, then gave a collective nod.
I cleared my throat, seizing the opportunity. “As I mentioned earlier, I want each of you to take a blood oath, promising that neither you nor anyone of your bloodlines will ever assist the hunting factions in their pursuit of paranormal species again. In exchange,” I continued, “I’ll give you all of the Blackwood fortune and assets—shares in companies, private holdings, equity. Everything.”
Their eyes narrowed, and I saw the greed flickering in them. They clearly coveted the vast wealth of the Blackwood family.
“Interesting,” one witch mused, “but not enough. We have a lucrative business with the hunters. Why should we give it all up?”
“Besides,” another said, “it’s not really your concern if vampires, sirens, or other types of shifters suffer at hunters’ hands.”
I clenched my jaw, but forced myself to remain composed. These witches were testing my resolve, but I wasn’t about to back down. They were underestimating just how far I would go to protect not only my own kind but all supernaturals who had suffered at the hands of hunters. “I figured you might need more incentive,” I said, unwilling to let their games deter me from the task at hand. “So, not only will you receive thecomplete Blackwood fortune, but I’ve also secured an additional two hundred million from the Longtail fortune, along with a generous assortment of assets provided by Brett Longtail.”
I could feel the power of my words as they hung in the air, capturing their full attention. Now I just had to close the deal. “Think about it,” I said. “It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to exhaust all this money before your death, and your loved ones will have financial stability for the rest of their lives. While the hunters might offer generous compensation, it’s only on a per-job basis. It’s finite. Eventually, there will be no shifters left for them to hunt, and that will leave you without an income. However, what I’m offering you will mean you can enjoy luxury manicures and indulge in as many exquisite wines as you desire, all without you or your descendants having to lift a finger ever again.”
The witches exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable as they stood and huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
“Not to mention,” I added, playing to their egos, “I have no doubt that such brilliant witches like yourselves can find profitable avenues to invest in and grow the money.”
The witches’ brows furrowed in deep thought, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of my proposal. Having closed numerous deals before, I recognized the signs that this was heading towards success.
As they debated, a sudden warmth spread through my mind, accompanied by Tori’s voice.“You know, it’s really hot when you’re all no-nonsense alpha and businessman-ish.”
A grin tugged at the corner of my lips.“Is that so? Maybe I should negotiate deals more often.”
