Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,16

lot.”

“We definitely add this one,” Liluth told her new assistant. “That should give a rounded shoot, and we can get it all in one day then.”

I nodded I heard her too. Good. Not just because I wanted in one day, but they had really heard me that I wasn’t going to do it again if they put me in see-through tiny bras and thongs. It was lingerie, but mostly full coverage, and nothing over the top. Same with the swimsuits and workout clothes I’d already tried on.

Once I was redressed, I went down the hall to the conference room. I rolled my eyes when Alec was huffing and bitching he had to wait for me. “You made me wait over an hour. Shut up about a few minutes. Seriously. You’re here because you need me.”

“I’m here because it’s time for you to give payment, or you’re in a world of trouble, kid,” he said with a suppressed growl, huffing like when his dragon was riding him.

Claudia had the folder ready and tossed it on the table. She’d been adamant she’d wanted to be in the meeting with him this time, not only as my attorney, but as a dragon who’d lost family in his takeover.

“You will get paid once we have all the hobgoblins in your area, as promised,” she told him, her tone ice cold. “Those are the ones we already knew were in your area before Ms. Vale met with you and have not been released. The agreement also stated that all the hobgoblins were to be interviewed by a third party, and Alpha Geoff is still working on that.”

“Well he needs to move faster,” Alec snarled.

It was hard not to smile when it hit me what was going on. He was out of time on the wards that hid his or other castles in his area.

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest, wondering how to use this new information to our advantage. “Your people should have moved faster. We had our meeting months ago. Why have they only finally started allowing the hobgoblins to leave now?”

“That doesn’t matter. The priority is now.”

“No, it is the point as we still don’t have them all, so you’re pulling shit with me, or your people aren’t following your orders, Alpha,” I snapped. “Get us everyone on that list safely, and I’ll be generous and give you one box of fifty before we do all the interrogations.” He seemed relaxed then, relieved even. I wasn’t done though. “But I want something else.”

“What?” he huffed.

“Some of the hobgoblins have said you have fae dogs in your area. There is a fae dog Tanesha Jameston has been getting familiar with and that sometimes listens to her. We want to give that dog a chance to find other fae dogs and get them to the sanctuary as well.”

His eyes went wide. “The dust collectors make huge money in our area.”

“Yeah, and they also abuse the fae dogs,” I bitched. “We know this. They shoot them and chase them out of safe places. That ends.” I shook my head when he tried to object. “None of them are dragons in Australia. What do you care? We could go in and just do it without your permission as we have people who are not dragons. You’re just taking something off my plate by giving them a safe zone to meet.”

“Unless you don’t need the crystals so soon and can wait until all the interrogations are done,” Claudia said, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice. “I think fifty is a generous show of good faith, given most of the hobgoblins from your people have been abused, so the final number will be half of what you thought.”

I caught a stray thought from his security, mentally laughing that Alec kept wearing telepathy blocking charms around me, but his people didn’t. That wasn’t as helpful to them then.

Glancing over at Claudia, I sighed. “Which is why the douche in charge of Africa hasn’t tried for this deal. You were right. He knows he won’t get as many crystals, but a lot of justice against his people the hobgoblins are owed as Alec agreed. And he doesn’t want his magical slaves taken away from his elites that love having them.”

She was unconcerned. “We’ll handle it.”

Alec snorted. “If you could have done that, you would have.”

“We try for civil options when there’s a problem, before going in and slaughtering people and wasting