and board? You want to stay here?”
“Yes. That’s a non-negotiable part of the bargain.” In truth, it’s the answer to all my prior concerns regarding getting a job—whether Father would strip my allowance, turn me out of the house. This way, I’ll have it all. A salary, work I’m suited for, a place to live. “In addition to these terms, once the curse breaks, you will reward me with a hefty sum of money.”
“In addition to a weekly salary?” He throws his free hand in the air, shaking his head.
“What do you care for money, anyway? You clearly aren’t spending it. Besides, you said you value your unseelie form more than anything. Would you put a price on that?”
“I may not spend my fortune now, but I like spending it when I’m a wolf, human.”
I take a firm step forward. “My name isn’t human, it’s Gemma. And if we are to work together, you will call me Miss Bellefleur.”
He takes a forbidding step closer to mirror mine, his eyes glinting dangerously. “Then you will cut that tone and call me Your Majesty.”
I refuse to falter beneath his glare. “Fine, Your Majesty. What’s it going to be? Do you agree to my terms?”
A corner of his mouth lifts. “You’re my prisoner and I am your king. I could kill you for insubordination, you know.”
I cross my arms, pulling my lips into a forced smile. “You could, but I doubt that would go over very well with the Alpha Council, especially after they find out you abducted me. Besides, I’m probably the closest thing you have to a shot at breaking this curse. Kill me if you want, but if this curse is meant to claim your life at the end of your sentence, then I’ll see you in hell in three months’ time.”
His eyes widen. “I don’t need you.”
“No, you could keep trying to trick unsuspecting townsfolk using fear and false heroics.” I flutter my lashes. “But…how has that been working so far?”
He releases a grumble. “How much money are we talking about?”
I pause, running some calculations in my head. “One thousand quartz chips per week.”
He moans.
“And twenty thousand quartz rounds once the curse has been broken.”
His mouth falls open, but no sound comes out. Eyes bulging, he finally speaks. “Twenty thousand rounds! You’re out of your mind.”
“Do you have it or not?”
“Of course I have it,” he says.
With slow, steady steps I close the distance between us, stopping only when we’re mere feet away. “Then do we have a deal? I’ll help you break the curse by getting Miss Coleman to fall in love with you. In return, you will provide room and board and pay me the agreed upon salary and follow my plan. Give up your ridiculous schemes of kidnapping and ransom notes and do what I say instead. When your curse breaks, you pay me the rest. Afterward, we never have to see each other again.”
His jaw shifts side to side, and he brings his hand to rub his beard. “The fae are supposed to be the ones to craft the bargain,” he mutters, a hint of petulance in his tone.
I hold out my hand.
His predatory gaze burns into me, brow furrowed as if he’s puzzling over a complicated mathematic formula. One only I know the answer to. Then, with a reluctant sigh that turns into a grumble, he places his hand in mine. “I agree to this bargain.”
13
Just like when I walked between the standing stones to enter Faerwyvae, this bargain conjures no outward sign that magic is taking place. But as before, I feel the hair rise on the back of my neck. Is it a coincidence? A matter of my own physical response to knowing I’ve just sealed a bargain with a fae? Or is this what magic feels like?
Whatever the case, the king seems none too pleased about it. Releasing my grip from our handshake, he can barely meet my eyes. “I can’t believe I just put my fate in the hands of a human.”
I can’t believe I have a job, I want to squeal in response, the reality of our bargain just beginning to sink in. He has no idea how greatly I’ve desired this. How badly I’ve needed this. Not our bargain, per se, but the first step toward freedom that employment brings. Squaring my shoulders, I allow only a hint of mirth to infuse my tone when I say, “I can’t believe it’s taken you five years to even try.”
“What,