The Kraken's Sacrifice (A Deal With a Demon #2)(8)

Now isn’t the time to fight for the sake of fighting. Azazel promised my safety, and while I don’t think he likes me very much, he’s painfully serious about the bargain itself. He won’t let King Kraken hurt me, especially not in Azazel’s own castle.

“What’s your name?”

He blinks. “Excuse me?”

“Your name. I’m assuming you have one.” I tried to decipher it on the contract itself, but it was an incomprehensible scribble that would do any doctor proud. “Unless you want me to keep calling you King Kraken.”

For a moment, it seems like he might not answer me, but he finally sighs. “Thane.”

Damn it. It’s a nice name. Not that it matters. I know my strengths, which are few, and my weaknesses, which are plentiful. If there’s one thing I’m going to do, it’s shatter myself against the wall of someone who will always find me wanting.

I manage to keep my silence as I slip my hand into his and follow him into the water. It doesn’t escape my notice that he keeps his tentacles from touching me, despite the fact I’m walking at his side and they are a mass around both of us. But why would he want to touch me more than he strictly has to? He doesn’t like me.

The water hits my thighs and the hem of my short dress. We keep going. The canal is deeper than I realized, and I’m quickly soaked to the chest. “Um.”

Thane pauses. “Yes?” he grits out.

“I suppose now is a good time to tell you that I don’t know how to swim.”

The first flash of emotion warms his face. Complete disbelief. “You don’t know how to swim,” he echoes. “How is that possible?”

My mother found public pools to be filthy and refused to let me swim in them. The same could be said for lakes, rivers, and the ocean itself, not that I had much reason to spend time in any body of water. “Just lucky, I guess.”

He’s still staring at me like I sprouted a second head, which is hilarious considering what’s sprouting from his head. Thane eyes the water and then me again. “This presents a complication.”

No shit, Sherlock.

“Does it?” I ask sweetly. “Are you sure you weren’t going to drown me? Because even if I could swim, I sure as hell can’t breathe underwater.”

Another of those pauses that speaks volumes. Thane shakes his head slowly. “Right. Of course. An oversight on my part. We’ll speak with—”

“Is there a problem?”

We turn to find Ramanu leaning against the wall near the stairs. They’re relaxed, as if they’ve been there for hours, and I can’t tell if they sprinted here or simply materialized, courtesy of the castle. Either way, I’m relieved to see a friendly face, even if I only spoke to them briefly today. “Ramanu!”

“No problem, demon.” It seems impossible, but Thane has gone even colder.

Ramanu grins, and I recognize that expression down to my very soul. This is another person who likes ruffling feathers. They lift their hand, and Thane stares at the bracelet dangling from their black claws. “Where did you get that?”

“I’m a bargainer demon.” Ramanu swings the bracelet idly. “We make bargains.”

“That doesn’t belong to you.”

“It does now.” Their grin never wavers. “What will you give me for it?”

For one wild moment, I think Thane really considers giving me for the bracelet. I’m honestly not entirely opposed to the idea. Ramanu seems like fun, and they actually emote, which would be a nice change of pace from this icy kraken.

Thane shakes his head sharply. “You want something. Stop playing games and state your offer.”

“Spoilsport.” Ramanu pouts. “Fine. You will grant me access to your keep to check on your pretty human.”

Thane narrows his eyes. “That was already in the contract.”

“Yes, it was.” Ramanu twirls the bracelet. “But I want solo check-ins with the human.”

If they were anyone else, I would think they were insinuating they want sex, but Ramanu is so focused on Thane, I get the feeling this little power play has nothing to do with me. Because why would it? I’m a newcomer to this realm, and beyond that, I’m only here because Azazel needed another pawn to move around his chessboard. I matter less than his endgame, than Thane’s endgame, and apparently even than Ramanu’s endgame.

Thane finally nods. “Deal.”

“Goddess, you didn’t even haggle.” Ramanu tosses the bracelet, and Thane grabs it out of the air with one of his tentacles. The demon looks at me, or at least turns in my direction. “I can’t speak to the quality of the company, but you’re safe with this stick-in-the-mud. I’ll come around in a week and check on you.” They grin. “Try not to wander your way into a watery grave in the meantime.”

We watch Ramanu push off the wall and stride gracefully to the stairs. Within seconds, they’re gone, leaving us alone once again. I stare after them for several beats, but I quickly grow bored of trying not to look at Thane. Also, the water is chilly, and I’m fighting not to wrap my arms around myself.

Thane is staring at the bracelet with the strangest expression on his face. It’s almost like loss. He shuts it down the moment he realizes I’m watching and shifts the tentacle with the bracelet closer to me. “Put this on.”