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More than ready.

Collin reaches a hand out, presumably to shake Des’s. The Bargainer looks down at it with mild distaste.

Instead of taking the seer’s hand, a black business card manifests between Des’s fingers. “You know how this works. We’re not fucking chums. Give my card to a friend in a tight place, or don’t, but don’t forget where we stand. You still have a favor left.”

I guess that’s as close as the Bargainer ever gets to his nicer clients.

Collin takes the card from Des, and that should be the end of things.

It’s not.

Maybe Collin is cocksure, or curious, or maybe he just wants to make a point, but at the last minute he grasps Des’s hand anyway, forcing the Bargainer into a hostage handshake.

The moment Collin’s skin comes in contact with my mate’s, the seer sucks in a breath, his eyes unfocusing.

Me thinks someone else is getting their fortune read …

Next to me, Des’s form flickers. One second Collin has him in a handshake, and in the next Des grabs the seer by the throat.

He slams Collin back against the wall. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember asking you to fucking read my future,” the Bargainer says calmly. There’s nothing to give away his simmering anger—no shadows, no outline of wings—nothing.

Collin pries at Des’s fingers uselessly, but the more their skin comes into contact, the worse off the seer appears to be. Collin’s eyes roll back, his breath choking. His body spasms once, twice.

I step forward. “Des, what are you doing?” I ask, alarmed.

He frowns at the seer. “Nothing.” As if to prove his point, the Bargainer releases the man.

Collin crumples to the ground, his body weak and shaking. He moans, his eyelids fluttering. He coughs. “Bargainer—”

The Night King stares impassively at him. “You pull that stunt again, you’ll lose those fingers one by one.”

Des glances over at me. “Ready, cherub?”

Uh … “Yep.”

Des places a hand on my back and leads me to the door.

“Wait,” Collin calls out from behind us.

The Bargainer doesn’t slow.

“There’s something you should know,” the seer says, his voice hoarse. “The darkness … the darkness will betray you.”

Chapter 24

We don’t speakuntil we’re a block away from the building.

“How would you like a beer?” the Bargainer finally says.

“Des.” It’s barely a whisper.

“Ineed a beer.”

“Des.” I stop. I feel like I can’t catch my breath. “You can’t just pretend the last ten minutes didn’t happen.”

The Bargainer mutters something under his breath. He turns to me, his hair looking like snow against the grey London backdrop.

“Callie, nothing is going to happen to me.” He sounds so sure of himself. Like he’s impervious to harm.