Maybe I needed a maid to bring me food and wash my clothes in lavender soap. I could get used to this kind of life. I sat at the table and pulled the pie closer to eat. Once I finished, I pushed the empty plate back and relaxed into the chair. It dug into my shoulders. Definitely not a chair for lounging.
Fin entered the room and lay a stack of papers and a pen in front of me. It took some time, but I read every single word of the contract before signing my name on the line and dating it.
Once I finished, he signed after me and neatly stacked the papers against the table.
The gravity of the situation sunk in. I would leave this arrangement very rich with my greatest wish fulfilled... or I would die a terrible, likely painful death.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked.
I couldn’t help but grin. “I was born for this.”
“You really mean that, don’t you? It’s not an overconfidence thing. You believe you can bring him down.” His tone held a hint of surprise, which I decided to ignore given our new work arrangement.
I studied his face; he wasn’t trying to mock me. “I was trained by the best. Every single day for the past sixteen years has prepared me to hunt him, to bring him to justice.”
Why wouldn’t he think I was an overly confident bounty hunter? Most of us are cocky and narcissistic. It came with long days and nights spent alone. He didn’t know me, and I didn’t know him.
Which brought me to my first serious question for him. “You didn’t tell me why this hunt is so important? What did the Black Mage do to you?”
When he met my gaze again, grief lined the edges of his eyes. He wasn’t ready to share all his secrets with me yet.
So I did what I do best and broke the tension by saying something absolutely ridiculous. “You know, you really didn’t need to go to all the trouble of kidnapping me. The second you swiped my bag from my shoulder, I would have followed you off a cliff to retrieve it. It has all my files and notes on our target inside. You could have taken it, left me stranded too, but that would have been a truly dick move. My laptop is in there too, and it took me a long time to find that limited edition David Bowie sticker on the front.”
He didn’t smile, but some wariness left his face. “We should go over each other’s notes and information. It might give us a more solid location to begin.”
Oh, he left that one wide open for me.
I winked at him. “I agree. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re not funny?”
Wounded. He wounded me.
I placed my hand against my sternum and stared at him in mock affront. “Why, sir, only every single day of my life. Buck up, Buttercup, I only get funnier with time and tequila. But enough about my well-honed wit. Tell me what you already know about the Black Mage.”
It took all of my control not to motion at him to hurry it along. He enjoyed making me wait while he composed answers inside his head before speaking.
“I’m not sure I know any more than you do. The Black Mage is the head of a magical organization similar to the mafia. And once you’re in, you’re in for life. He kills indiscriminately and doesn’t care who he hurts in the process. Obviously, he has ties to law enforcement, the hunter guilds, anyone who might make a move against him. I’ve been trying to find a way in for some time and I’m out of options.” He waved at me. “Which is where you come in.”
I gave him the best imitation of the chief’s deadpan-squished-together-eyebrow stare. “Thank you, I think. It’s really comforting to know I was your last choice.”
“I apologize for implying you are my last resort. Working with another person will be new for me. I wasn’t excited about the prospect when your name first reached me, but I appreciated your skill and style. I think we can do this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have wasted either of our time.”
His praise made me want to sit straighter in the chair. No, my self-worth was not built by anyone but myself.
I gave him a nod in thanks and shoved the rest of the pie toward him. “Your cook is great. This pie is delicious.”
“No, thanks, I don’t like chocolate.”
What kind of person was he? What did I get myself into? “Are you joking? Is it a fairy thing, or is it an I’m a weird person thing?”
“If you must know, it is a fae thing. My senses are stronger than a human’s. They aren’t as sharp as a vampire or a shifter, but I try to avoid overly sugary desserts and spicy food.”
Delighted by this new tidbit about his species, I leaned in, hoping he would give me more. When he lapsed into silence, I slumped back against the chair.
“More pie for me, yay.”
A chime echoed through the dining room and he stood. “It’s late. Why don’t we finish this conversation in the morning? Can you find your way back to your room?”