Page 48 of Samhain Savior

Corson frowned, but said nothing.

“The law is the law,” Mal droned, and Vine only shook his head sadly.

“Sorry, Percy.”

“It was my oath, not hers. She didn’t—” Nathaniel started to defend Persephone, but she cut him off.

“Then I’ll make an oath of my own.”

The ring on my hand flared with heat, my inner monster stirring at the prospect of making a deal. I could feel the magic curling inside me, a hungry creature ready to feast.

It had been too long.

“Persephone, no!” Nathaniel grasped her arms, shaking her lightly. “You cannot. You know what he is! There will be no backing out of it.”

“I am aware, uncle. I know what this will cost, and I’m willing to do it.” She gently pushed him away, patting his hand before moving to stand before me.

“Archer, demon of the crossroads. I wish to make a deal.”

Chapter twenty-one

Archer

Looking down at her, I could see the fear in her eyes, and my shadows writhed in glee. They longed to taste her soul, to revel in the permanence of its submission to my power and hold her to her promise.

Behind me, Nathaniel wailed, falling to his knees in horror at the reality of what his beloved niece was doing.

“Persephone, no! Not like this. I never meant for it to be like this.”

“Then you should have made better choices,” I snarled, shooting out one hand, my power pinning Nathaniel against the far wall and holding him there. “You willnotinterfere.”

I watched as shadows began to climb Persephone’s body, wrapping her in ropes of darkness and holding her in place. She started to smile, no doubt remembering the last time I’d held her in place like this. But one flick of my wrist tightened the bindings, and her smile fell, the realization that this was going to be an entirely different experience.

“Persephone Emerson,” I said, holding up my hand, the ring on my finger now glowing red hot. “Do you enter this agreement of your own free will?”

She swallowed, not looking at all sure of herself. Against the wall, Nathaniel thrashed, fighting against my binding, but it was no use; he was held fast.

“I do.” Her words were shaky, but she met my gaze. “I know exactly what I want.”

“Well then, state your terms.”

She licked her lips, looking over my shoulder at her uncle, then at the others who stood by, watching us. I could see the moment her gaze landed on Delilah, because her lip curled in disdain.

“I’ll take you to the Key. I’ll submit to your punishment.” She smiled coyly when she said it, but I didn’t react. Realizing I wasn’t having any of her bullshit, she sighed and continued. “I’ll even willingly accept my death if that’s what you think is right. I only ask that you sparemy uncle. Allow him to live, and I’ll bear the full burden of his actions.”

“Archer, no. Please.” Nathaniel was full on sobbing now, his words barely decipherable as he cried. “You can’t. You care for her. I know you do. Don’t do this. Kill me. Punish me. Please.”

I stared at her, turning her terms over in my mind. On the surface, it seemed completely selfless. An act of sacrifice for the man who had done so much for her.

But I knew Persephone better than she thought I did. She never did anything if there wasn’t something in it for her.

“And how many years do you want?” Every deal came with an end date. A time when the contract expired and the person who had made the bargain submitted for the final time, their soul landing in the Pit along with all the others. Scores of mortals who thought they could be content if only they could have their deepest desires fulfilled.

Fools, the lot of them.

Happiness didn’t come from the superficial bullshit they all coveted.

But young mortals rarely understood the truth of that. Persephone, though, was far from young. Did she know better than all those hopeful souls that thought they could gain joy by making a deal with a devil?