Page 13 of Ensnared

“When you make promises, do you have to keep them?”

He smiles. “You don’t know us, so how could you trust any answer I give?”

He’s right. I swear under my breath.

“But for what it’s worth, when we swear oaths, they’re binding.”

His companions look concerned.

That’s more reassurance than I expected to get. “Make me a very simple promise, and I won’t try to kill myself.”

“Are humans trustworthy? Are your oaths binding when you make them?” He looks skeptical.

“Many humans lie,” I admit. “But I’m not one of them. If I promise you something, I’ll keep my word.” At least, as long as it makes sense. I don’t feel honor bound to keep any promises I make to the devil himself, but hopefully he won’t realize that.

“What do you want?” He arches one eyebrow.

“I have three younger siblings. You saw them. Two sisters and a brother. I also have two other family members who aren’t close.” I consider telling him that Mom’s been ensnared, but then I worry that might change his promise. Maybe I should keep her connection to the dragons a secret until I know more.

“So?” He looks bored. Or is it annoyed? I can’t tell.

“Swear you’ll keep all five of them safe, and I’ll promise not to harm myself.”

“And if they’re injured in spite of my efforts?”

I shift the umbrella closer.

“You won’t always have an, er, what is that?”

“It’s—it doesn’t matter. If you don’t think I’m creative enough to find a way to kill myself, you don’t know me well enough yet.”

“Humans are quite fragile, it seems,” Blondie says.

Axel seems to be considering my offer. “You must also agree to do as you’re told.”

“You can already force her to behave,” Gordon says.

Axel arches one eyebrow. “I’d rather not need to—it’s problematic, trying to think of every circumstance that might arise.”

He didn’t disagree though, which means if I refuse, he can figure out how to force me, or I can do as he says of my own will. That sounds better for me anyway. “If I agree, you’ll keep my brother and sisters—and two other humans if I can find them—safe?”

“Sparing five humans is negligible,” he says. “But you can’t leave to look for the other two. If they appear within my sphere of influence, I’ll keep them safe along with the three small ones you sent scurrying to their den. Is that correct?”

Their den? Close enough. “Yes.”

“You’ll do whatever I say without argument, and I keep them safe in exchange. That’s our bargain. We’re clear.”

The idea of ‘doing whatever he says’ makes me want to jab the umbrella into my jugular right now, but instead, I nod, because this isn’t about me. How shocked will he be when my mom appears right inside his sphere of influence? I can’t help my satisfaction in outwitting him.

“Alright.” He sighs. “I accept.”

Just like that? What did I forget? Was that too easy?

“Did you expect me to decline?” He’s smirking, his golden eyes glinting, his sharp jaw set in a confident line, and I realize that, in spite of the ridiculous outfit, in spite of his general evilness, and even though he apparently controls my life from here on out, he’s probably the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.

I hate him more for that. The outside should reflect the inside.

I imagine him with pock marks covering his face. I pretend his hair’s thinning on top and he’s been forced to comb it over. I imagine that he has a huge, saggy gut instead of a flat belly with broad shoulders and muscular arms.