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Mor

“Why does everyone insist on visiting me in the middle of the night? I’m not a nocturnal creature. I, too, need sleep.” Sev smirks at me from where he leans against his doorjamb, arms crossed over his bare chest. He looks paler than the last time I saw him, but maybe that’s just the dim lighting of his porch.

“I want to make a deal,” I say, guessing they’re the magic words for this monster.

He rolls his eyes. “You and everyone else.” He flicks his fingers in a come on then gesture as he saunters down a towering hallway into what must be the largest home on this lake.

“You’re lucky I’m curious by nature.”

The house is oddly quiet once the door shuts behind me.

Almost like I’m in a museum after hours.

If Sev has the collection I suspect he does, the comparison is not far off the mark.

But he doesn’t lead me to a room full of treasures.

Instead, we come to a dining room with a massive window I bet would show the lake during the day.

He settles himself at the head of the table and waves for me to take a seat.

“Might as well be civil about this. You said you want to make a deal? What is it that you want, my dear?”

“Let’s discuss what you want first.”

“Me?” He chortles.

“I am handsome. Rich. Powerful beyond what you could comprehend.” A smirk cuts across his striking face.

“I want for nothing.”

“Liar.”

“Hmm.” His eyes narrow as he studies me.

“And you think you know what I want?”

This is it.

When I find out if my research led me to the right answer.

If the occasional vague mentions of a monster in the texts I’ve found refer to the creature before me.

“God objects.” My voice is steady, my gaze unflinching.

“In particular, the golden apple that I have in my possession.”

Nothing about his expression indicates if I’m correct, and when I try to get a lock on his aura all I encounter is a fog empty of any true color.

“Interesting.” Sev hums. “And why do you believe that I want some silly gilded fruit?”

“You can’t come in the library. Which means the house doesn’t like you. And the house only dislikes those who attempt to steal from it.”

He taps a finger against his lower lip.

“This apple is in the house?”

“It was when you first failed to take it. It was when you sent Hamish to get it. And it was seventeen years ago, when you sent Bo to try to find it. I have no idea why he agreed, but I assume it had to do with Georgiana.”

“Is that jealousy I detect?”

“No.” My voice whips out like a steel dagger, flung with precision.

“It’s anger. I am angry with you, Sev.”

“I’ll give you a tip, witch.” His expression is pure smugness.

“It’s never good to let emotions come into play during negotiations.”

“Noted. Now do you agree that you want the god object?”

Sev lifts a shoulder and lets it drop, the motion dismissive.

“There aren’t many mythics who wouldn’t want a god object. So, yes, let’s say I’m intrigued by this apple you have. What do you want in exchange?”

“Three things.”

“Greedy.”

“No. Angry,” I correct, and then I hold up three fingers.

“First, I want you to lift whatever magical gag you have on Bo and forgive him any vowed obligation he has to you. He has spent seventeen years of his life cursed, and I will not stand aside as he continues to be enchanted and indebted.”

Sev stares off to the side, his thumb and forefinger fiddling with his bottom lip, giving the appearance that he’s only half listening.

“Go on.”

“Two, I want a blood oath from you, stating you will never harm me or anyone that I love.” He scoffs, and I continue, “I’ll even be generous. You cannot harm me or mine, unless we attack you first. Which I think is entirely fair.”

“I am on the edge of my seat for point number three.” Sarcasm drips from his words.

“Then here it is. Number three. You will also swear that the Mythic Council can call on you one time—that’s right, only one—to lend your efforts to protect Folk Haven against a threat.”

Owen’s proposed plan and my parents’ unexpected visit has made it impossible to ignore this town’s precarious safety.

If I can get a boon from the most formidable mythic I’ve ever encountered then I’ll sleep better at night.

“You want to give The Council that power?” Sev’s smile is chiding.

“Georgiana Stormwind sits on that council. Cozy in her seat of authority.” He drums his fingers on the tabletop.

“The siren who tried to steal from me and then convinced the monster you love to take the punishment in her place.”

I blink, taken aback by the sudden reveal.

“Bo hasn’t told you, I’m sure. He couldn’t. But Georgiana used to be a naughty young woman. Loved breaking rules where no one could catch her.” Sev continues to tap his fingers in a repetitive rhythm.

“She didn’t think I was home. I often wasn’t back then. Had other business to attend to. And hadn’t bothered to set up a full suite of wards. Thought my reputation would be enough to keep everyone away.” His lips curl in a smirk.

“But I forgot how arrogant the young are. How stupid. And the little pest crept inside my house, touched my things, and tried to take one with her.” Now Sev’s mouth stretches into a full grin.

“I caught her, of course. And she begged me to let her go. Promised to complete a task for me. One I thought was perfect for a little thief.” His eyes meet mine, holding my gaze.

“Not even a day past before she found someone to pawn the task off onto. That’s the woman you want to give my boon to?”

The monster likely hears how my teeth grind together, the fury locking my jaw.

Now, finally, I have my answer.

Why Bo was in debt to Sev.

He was protecting Georgiana from her own stupid mistakes.

The selfish siren had thrown him to a dangerous creature to save herself and didn’t even glance over her shoulder to see the damage she’d left in her wake.

But this isn’t about revenge.

This is about Bo’s freedom.

And the town’s safety.

“Number three stands.” And hopefully, another Of the Wing member gets elected to The Council before the favor needs to be called in.

Sev stares at me. Then he laughs.

Slow at first, then great bellows of it.

Only to stop abruptly.

The transition is eerie in its swiftness.

“No.”

“No?” Though I repeat the word as a question, I’m not surprised.

Sev has something I don’t.

Time.

But I also haven’t laid my final card on the table.

“Your price far exceeds what you offer. But this was amusing to hear. Thank you for the entertainment.”

“You still don’t know what I offer.”

The corner of his lips twitches, as if a frown attempted to take over his sensual mouth.

But he restrains the display of emotion.

“You already stated. You offer the apple.”

“About that, let me explain.” Now it’s my turn to lean back, my relaxing posture a power move.

Because I know I’m on the verge of a checkmate.

“You’re not the only one interested in god objects. And while you may have wealth and power beyond my comprehension, you do not have my library. Full of books with the most interesting pieces of information. Fascinating spells. Like one I came across only a few months ago.”

His eyes spark, and the cracks in his shield bleed agitation and interest.

“I discovered an incantation that can be wielded on a god object.” I lean across the table and hold his gaze with mine.

“To destroy it.”

Fury blazes hot in his eyes before he shutters them.

“It’s never good to let emotions come into play during negotiations.” I long to taunt him.

But Sev is not one to underestimate.

I don’t have his blood oath yet.

“Of course my offer sounds unappealing. I bet you’ve been stealing god objects for years. Decades maybe. I’d bet you’re a long-lived mythic and you think you only need to outsmart me in the future or wait until I’m too frail to defend my little treasure.” My voice lowers, both coaxing and threatening.

“But you don’t have that time, Sev. The deal I’m offering is to give you the apple in exchange for my terms, or I’ll destroy it. You will never possess it.”

I can see murder in his eyes.

“Also, just so you know, I sent a message to a few council members, letting them know where I am. If you kill me tonight, you will be driven from this town. Maybe you’ll make your way back once the next generation is here. But the apple will be gone by then.”

The monster gazes at me, his expression colder than the metal the man I love was trapped in.

Trapped because of him.

Sev has no sympathy from me.

And he knows it.

“Clever witch.”