A Little Green Magic (The Little Coven #1) - Isabel Wroth Page 0,83

answer, so, shall we make a deal?”

Uriah was sure he hadn't ever seen a shit-eating grin quite like the one Donnatar gave Ivy, his teeth startlingly white in the bush of his beard, his cheeks rounding like a cherub. Uriah understood how a woman might overlook the antlers and the cloven hooves. That smile made Donnatar insanely handsome, but those eyes of his were full of malice.

“Certainly.”

Ivy took a deep breath, letting the scroll of paper unfurl in a roll that spilled down her lap and onto the ground. “Excellent. My terms are as follows: Myself and my mate will happily agree to make the trip to the Summerlands, and I will unbind my Fae powers to participate in the ritual as you require.

“For the duration of our stay in the Summerlands, you will guarantee the safety of myself and my mate, giving us safe passage through your lands, doing everything in your power to protect us from harm, up to and including death or irreparable damage to my person and my mate's person.”

Donnatar gave a chortle. “Daughter, you could trip and break your neck, or your mate could run afoul of a wayward water sprite. These things I cannot control.”

Ivy acted as though her father hadn't spoken at all, continuing on in a moderate tone. “You will see to it that our transportation is safe and reliable, providing an escort who will inform us of any dangerous entities and any inclement weather along our travels so that we may avoid accidents and be well informed of the dangers of your realm.

“You will see to it we are educated on any toxic plants or foods and ensure none of our meals are poisoned or detrimentally compromised in any way.

“While in the lands of the Fae, my mate and I will be safe from any violence brought upon us by you, by any enemies you may have—be they Fae or any other race of person or creature—discontent persons who may wish us harm or to impede the ritual process, and from any agent in your employ, friend, passing acquaintance, prisoner, or random stranger.

“In exchange for my services therein, you, Donnatar of the Western Hills, Father, Green Man, God of the Forest, will answer any and all questions I pose to you from now until the sun rises tomorrow with complete and total honesty.”

It was a thrill of the highest order to see Ivy's prick father gape in astonishment. The surprise didn’t last long, and the goat leapt right on over to outright rage a second later. “How did you... Who told you my true name?”

Ivy didn't stop reading from the contract Rowena's lawyer sent over, barely pausing to take a breath.

If she stopped, it would be considered the end of her wish list, and considering her dear old dad's reaction to hearing his real name? Well, Ivy better not stop.

“You will not answer questions with questions, nor will you give any response that is not factual and true in its entirety. If you do not speak the truth, if you lie or evade the question posed to you in any way, our deal will be rendered null and void.

“Should our deal be nullified, my mate and I will not accompany you to the Summerlands. I will not perform the ritual you require now or any time in the future.”

“This is an unreasonable list of demands!” Donnatar declared, slamming a huge fist down on the tabletop hard enough to make the dishes jump and rattle. “I cannot possibly be expected to keep you and your beast safe from everything—”

“Should you fail to meet the terms of this agreement, you will no longer be welcome on the lands claimed by The Little Coven, or by me, Ivy Greene. Fail to meet my terms, and I will not only refuse any further attempts to enlist my aid, magical or otherwise, but also, you will be forever unwelcome in my life.”

Donnatar leaned forward with a menacing snarl, but Ivy didn't so much as flinch as she continued to speak. “I am a god, and you have bound your magic. With what power do you think to oppose my will?”

“Furthermore, if my demands are not met and our contract rendered null, you will leave without contest and make no attempts to force me to bend to your will. Neither you nor any agent in your employ, friend, passing acquaintance, prisoner, or random stranger at your direction will kidnap, harm, maim, injure, curse, kill or retaliate against