He sighs and shoves the contract at me.
It takes several long moments to read it over, and I am achingly aware of the human the entire time. She shifts from foot to foot, swings her hands back and forth, and finally starts humming under her breath.
“Cease your fidgeting,” I snap. “You’re worse than a child.”
She instantly goes still. Again, something like guilt flares. I don’t know how to be around new people any longer, how to learn to ride the tides of their emotions. Losing Brant stole any softness I was capable of. My sibling has grown accustomed to my sharp edges and cold retreats, but this human hasn’t. I don’t know what prompted her into making a deal with Azazel, but surely I can make even the smallest effort to be kind.
Seven years is a long time to share a space, even if I have no intention of spending more time with her than strictly necessary.
But when I look at her, she has that wild smile firmly in place. It’s the only warning I get before she speaks, her voice honeyed. “If you were into age play, you should have just said something. Shall I call youdaddy?”
“No.” The word comes out too sharp, but she’s set me back again, and I don’t know how to deal with this. “Do not, under any circumstances, call me that.”
She parts her lips, but Azazel cuts in. “That was a hard boundary, Catalina. Respect it.”
Catalina.
A pretty name for a pretty human. Even the way she scrunches her nose at him is pretty. “You’re definitely a Daddy.”
“Catalina.” There’s a hint of warning in the demon’s tone. “Do not test me.”
“I live to test you.” Her smile goes sweet. “But I’ll be good. I promise.”
“I don’t believe that for a moment.” He turns to me. “I don’t think this is a good pairing. Give me a few days, and I’ll find you a suitable replacement.”
“No.” I don’t know why I say it. In the short time I’ve associated with this woman, she’s more than proven herself to be a catastrophe in waiting. She will create waves in my carefully balanced life, and that is the last thing I want.
But I don’t miss the way her shoulders dip the tiniest bit at his offer. Resignation. That’s the emotion. As if Azazel’s words confirmed something she already knew. It’s a direct counterpoint to her previous cheer that bordered on animosity.
“Are you sure?” Azazel watches me closely. “If she is harmed, your territory is forfeit.”
“I’m aware,” I say slowly. “I chose her. I’ll keep her.” I set the contract on the desk and sign before he can offer again.
The contract itself is nothing more than I expected. Azazel laid out the terms in his invitation. No harm is to come to the human, and while the respective leaders can attempt to seduce their prizes, they cannot force—by any definition of the word—the woman into bed with themselves or any others. Violation of the contract results in our territories being forfeit, a hefty price the others are willing to risk for the chance to boost their territory’s health with half-human offspring.
Easy enough to agree to.
I have no intention of touching this woman, and I certainly will not be breeding her. I have my heir. I will not compromise Embry’s future rule. Should ze want to mate with a human once ze takes the throne, that is zir choice.
Azazel frowns down at my signature and then turns that frown on Catalina. “I have reservations about this pairing.”
“Of course you do.” She’s swifter than I anticipate, plucking the pen from my hand, then scrawling out a signature above her name, spelled in English.
It’s done.
Azazel sighs. “Do not give me reason to regret this.”
“No promises,” Catalina sings.
I am suddenly sureI’mthe one who’s going to regret this.
4
CATALINA
Idon’t know why I’m surprised King Kraken takes me down to the canal where I first met him. I pause at the bottom of the stairs. “Pretty sure drowning translates as harm.”
He gives me a look. Or at least I think it’s a look. His expression hasn’t shifted from the cold mask he’s worn from the moment I caught sight of him in the room where we were auctioned off. If auctioning off is even accurate. There was no haggling, no rising bids. They just called out a color and claimed that woman.