The Demon's Bargain (A Deal With a Demon #4)(21)

I allow myself to lean back against their arm, and they respond by tugging my chair closer to them so they can wrap their arm around my shoulders properly. It feels nice. Really nice. I clear my throat. “It’s a loophole.”

They study me. “Have you entered the tournament using that loophole before?”

My skin heats, even though I’m certain I have no reason to be embarrassed. “Only once. When I was nineteen.” Afterward, my fathers found out and gave me a blistering hour-long lecture about misusing the powers of the amulet. My Byrne dad, in particular, was displeased about me using the family heirloom in such a way.

It’s for personal protection, Lenora. Not for personal gain.

“Did you win?”

“Of course she won.” Jack snorts. “Cleaned up. She even kicked Skye’s ass.”

Skye lifts her top lip in a snarl. “I don’t like loopholes.” She jumps when Jack nudges her. “But no hard feelings about the broken back.”

“Broken back,” Ramanu echoes.

I tense. I had nearly this exact conversation with Jack and Skye the first time I introduced them to Olivia. She’d been horrified by the violence. Up until that point, my dark magic was mostly in theory for her. Hearing Jack and Skye cackle about the damage I’d done in the ring…

We didn’t last another month before she sat me down and gently broke things off. Her girlfriend is a midwife and hobby baker; the only thing she punches is dough to make mouthwatering bread.

I lift my chin. I’m not going to apologize for who I am. I’m done with that. If that means I end up alone because the only people who like spending time with witches who use dark magic are other witches who use dark magic and there’s a thread that runs through all of us.

We aren’t trustworthy. Not with each other, at least. Maybe not at all.

“Efficient,” Ramanu says.

Skye gives a toothy grin. “Isn’t it? She pulverized my spine with a spell. Took a few hours to heal.”

Jack laughs. “To be fair, you were trying to claw her to ribbons.”

“Nature of the beast.” Skye snorts. “Get it. The beast. It’s me.”

They giggle like a bunch of schoolkids at the ridiculous pun. I can’t quite relax. I glance at Ramanu, only to find their lips curved. I frown. “Why are you smiling? They’re talking about me pulverizing Skye’s spine.”

“Skye’s fine and obviously harbors no hard feelings. Why would it bother me?” Their smile doesn’t dim. “You’re a fearsome little thing, aren’t you?”

I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t need me to protect you. You’re more than capable of protecting both of us.” They lean down until their front horns brush my temple, lowering their voice so they’re speaking just for me. “It’s okay, Lenora. You don’t have to fight this time. I said I’ll take care of it, and I will.”

The temptation to let them do it is nearly overwhelming. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Ramanu, a bargainer demon. But if I do that, then they’ll have the amulet. The thought leaves my stomach in tangles. “And then you’ll force me to bargain for the amulet back.” They’ve been nothing but honest about their aims, and with that as leverage, they’d have a clear path to get what they want.

“That would be the smart thing to do.” They say it strangely, though. They brush a kiss to my temple and sit back. “Can anyone enter the tournament?”

“Yeah, you just show up early enough to put your name in.” Jack leans back against Skye. “I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat.” They look back at me. “Let me know if there’s anything we can do to help.”

Jack has quick fingers, but they aren’t a fighter, and if Skye couldn’t beat me with the amulet, she’s certainly not going to beat Kristoff. I force a smile even though my shoulders feel so tight, they’re wound up to my ears. “Thank you for trying tonight. Enjoy the rest of Samhain.”

Skye laces her fingers through Jack’s and pulls them to their feet. “Oh, we plan on it. See you around.” She tows Jack into the thinning crowd.

The Shadow Market runs mostly nonstop from midnight of the opening ceremony until the closing ceremony. There are definitely peak hours, but the crowds fluctuate throughout. Right now is a relatively low time, but it won’t last long.

I allow myself to lean my head back against Ramanu’s arm for a ten count. When I get to the end, I lift my head and push to my feet. I offer Ramanu my hand. Not because they need help getting out of the chair. More because I want an excuse to keep up the contact with them. “We might as well grab some food and get some rest. We won’t have another chance tonight.”

If I slept with Kristoff again, I might be able to get the amulet.

The thought makes my skin crawl. I can’t do it. Not after he betrayed me so thoroughly. He left me without my protection, but more: he knows he took a family heirloom that’s been passed down for generations. It’s priceless and irreplaceable, and if he cared about me even a little, he wouldn’t have done it.

I…can’t do it.

“What are you thinking?”

Once again, I don’t consider lying. “If I fucked Kristoff, I might be able to distract him enough to get the amulet.” I don’t really believe it, though. He’ll be waiting for me to try something. The more likely outcome is that he’ll use me for orgasms the same way he used me to get the amulet, and then he’ll leave me with only shame and regret for company.