Page 117 of Marked By Moonlight

I stared at the pen, then the envelope. “What’s this?”

“Your new contract,” he spat. “Take it or leave it.”

Roux’s eyebrows jumped up.New what?

I glanced at Mina, but her gaze aimed steadfastly out the window.

Roux tore open his envelope and began reading, moving his lips silently. Bene’s eyes went wide as he skimmed his. Gordon crossed his arms and tapped his foot. I started reading, then trailed off in shock.

Bene flipped between the front and back of his document several times, gaping. “Is this for real?”

Gordon huffed. “Of course it’s real.” He checked his watch. “You have three minutes to accept the new terms — or not.”

Bene snatched the pen out of my hand. Roux’s brow knotted as he reread his carefully. I did the same, looking for a catch, but couldn’t find one.

Why would Gordon grant us our pardons early?Roux asked into my mind.Why offer us new contracts on more favorable terms?

I stared at him blankly. Then we both turned to Mina, remembering the message Roux had relayed the previous night.

Gordon says to tell Mina he accepts her terms.

My mouth dropped open, and Roux muttered an expletive.

I read mine again.

The above pardon takes effect immediately. Penalties for prior offenses have been deemed sufficiently met, and the signee has no further obligations to Monsieur Clervaud, nor to any other party, now or at any time hereafter, in perpetuity. This contract supersedes all previous contracts, which are hereby declared null and void. By signing below, you agree to the following new terms…

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. What had Mina risked, traded, or promised to gift me my freedom?

“Mina,” I murmured.

“Just sign,” she growled, keeping her eyes away from Gordon.

NoI’ll explain later,no private message whispered into my mind. Just a dogged determination that scared me. So much, I considered not signing to spare her whatever she’d promised Gordon.

But something told me it was too late. Plus, she would be furious.

Roux took the pen from Bene, signed, and handed it to me. I scribbled my name at the bottom of my contract, and Roux snapped pictures of each before handing them over. That prompted Gordon to make outraged sounds, which we ignored, because for the first time ever, we could.

I tried organizing my thoughts, but they flopped around like slippery fish.

“What about Henrik?” Mina held up his envelope.

Gordon grimaced while countersigning the others. “He can hand his copy to Celeste later today.”

Right. Later. When I would drag an explanation out of Mina and do my damnedest to protect her from the fallout of all this.

Gordon stepped toward the door with an ominous, “I expect everything to run smoothly.”

Another veiled threat, but that was nothing new.

“Celeste will, as usual, report to me on your progress,” he went on.

She smiled, baring her teeth.

“Yes, sir,” Roux barked in an effort to hurry him out the door.

Gordon stopped to glower at me, then glance at Mina, who averted her eyes. To his credit, he genuinely looked sad.