Seven years of service to be paid up front before he does what I need. A bargain entered into willingly, in which I won’t be forced to do anything I don’t want to do. I laugh at that clause. There are a lot of ways to ensure someone’s obedience without “forcing.” It’s the reason I’m in this mess to begin with.
“Wait, say that again.”
Azazel pauses. “If you become pregnant, the child will not return with you to this realm upon the completion of your contract.”
I stare. “You left that out when you went over the offer last time.”
“I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
The wrong idea. Right. Nothing about this deal seemed too good to be true, but there was an element of wondering when the other shoe would drop. Now it’s dropping hard enough to make my head spin. “So that’s what this is. A breeding program.”
“I am merely covering all bases.”
I don’t believe him for a moment. Obviously, I was aware sex may be part of the deal. Azazel looks human enough, even if I get the feeling it’s a convenient form to hold and not necessarily his real one. The thought almost makes me laugh. Amazing how quickly the human brain can adapt when there are no other routes left. “And if I don’t want to have sex with anyone?”
Again, that unreadable look flicks in my direction. “As I said, you will not be required to do anything you don’t want to do. You will, however, give the person of my choosing the opportunity to seduce you.”
So many layers to that sentence. I have absolutely no reason to trust him, but I’m also out of options. Still, I can’t help stalling. Just a little. “Why seven years?”
“Magic is a strange creature.” He shrugs. “Certain things amplify it and allow for the impossible. Numbers have meaning. Seven, in particular, is powerful in all the realms. So we bargain for seven years.”
That doesn’t really make sense to me, but nothing makes sense to me. In the end, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have any other options. “Give it here.”
Azazel passes over the contract and produces a pen from somewhere, likely his perfectly tailored black jacket. The paper is thicker than I expected, almost a vellum. I can’t quite stop myself from rubbing my fingers against it. “Only the best for demon deals, I guess.”
I don’t give myself time to think, to let my mind run through the maze filled with my anxieties. I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I have no money, no family, nowhere to run where Ethan can’t find me. He’s made it damn clear that the next time he gets his hands on me, I won’t survive the experience.
Signing my name on this contract might be opening myself up for an even worse outcome. I’m not naive enough to think there’s nothing worse than death, but it’s still preferable. Maybe Azazel will keep his word. Maybe he won’t.
At least Ethan won’t live to hurt me or anyone else again.
In seven years…How many people will he hurt in the meantime?
“What about…” I don’t have family. All my true friends drifted off within the first year of my relationship with Ethan. I hardly call being forced to be cordial with his friends’ wives being actual friends. We don’t speak outside those uncomfortable dinners. Still. I swallow hard. “Disappearing for seven years will raise some questions.”
“You won’t be gone for seven years.” At my confusion, he exhales slowly. “Time moves differently in the various realms. It’s not entirely consistent, and we bargainer demons can be a little selective with manipulating things, but seven years in the demon realm is anywhere from an hour to a few months here, depending on a few factors.”
I blink. “So I’ll appear back here in an hour or a few months, but seven years older.” What a way to waste a life.
“No.” A sharp shake of his head. “The aging process is…” Azazel makes a frustrated motion with his hand. “It has to do with the magic steeped in every atom in my realm, but even humans who reside there live longer than they do here. You won’t be immortal, but if you were to spend the rest of your life there, you’d likely live a hundred and fifty years at least. You will age over these seven years, but not at the rate you would in the human realm.”
It all seems too convenient, but it’s not as if I have any choice. If Ethan is tracking my secret credit card, he’ll find me quickly no matter where I go. I have to take this deal.
I swallow my fear and sign with a shaking hand. The moment the pen tip leaves the paper, something foreign sizzles through me. I gasp and press my hand to my chest.