Taming Demons for Beginners (The Guild Codex Demonized #1) - Annette Marie Page 0,33
stairs and started down them, firmly tugging me along, I told myself it would be fine. If he tried to interrogate me about last night, I would leave. He wouldn’t stop me from leaving … would he?
We reached the hallway at the bottom and my eyes darted to the open library door. Light spilled across the hardwood. Travis just needed to check on the demon. The circle would be filled with impenetrable darkness, like always, and we’d …
Why were the lights already on?
The disquieting question had scarcely pierced my thoughts before Travis pulled me into the library. My gaze flashed across the black dome and the podium in front of it, then caught on the three people waiting for us.
I recognized two of them: short, brusque Karlson and his huge, silent companion, whom I’d dubbed Hulk. Uncle Jack’s clients, the ones waiting to buy a contract with Zylas. The third man was tall but not looming, with a military buzz cut and muscular arms displayed by his tight t-shirt.
My feet rooted to the floor. Travis turned and smiled. It wasn’t a warm smile. I suddenly doubted whether it had ever been warm.
He slung his arm around my shoulders and dragged me forward. “Come on, Robin, don’t be shy.”
The three men assessed me with cold calculation.
“This is her?” Karlson snapped impatiently.
“Yep.” Travis forced me to stand in front of the men like a model on display. “This is the only person the demon has spoken to. It lured her close enough to grab her.”
“And she survived?” the third man inquired flatly.
“My arrival must’ve startled the demon. She fell out of the circle in complete hysterics.”
I stood mute. Whatever was happening, it was bad. I needed to get out of here, but Travis was holding my shoulders and the three men were blocking my escape.
“Is she an apprentice?” Karlson barked.
“Nope. Doesn’t know shit about demons. She’s a sleeper.”
A sleeper—a mythic who didn’t practice magic. It wasn’t a flattering term.
Karlson grunted, then stepped toward me. “All right, girl. I don’t like wasting time, so I’ll make this quick. We want that demon to talk, and you’re the one it wants to talk to, so you’re going to help us, understood?”
“H-he didn’t talk to me,” I began. “I—”
Karlson’s hand flashed out and pain exploded through my head. I fell back into Travis, a scream lodged in my throat. My cheek throbbed violently.
Karlson lowered his arm. “Didn’t I just tell you I hate wasting time?”
“Hey,” Travis growled as he helped me straighten. “There’s no need to hit her.”
“I’ll decide that. Keep your mouth shut and let the adults handle this.” He folded his arms. “Now get the demon talking.”
I trembled, my mind spinning in a desperate search for a way out. Travis turned me around and steered me toward the circle, stopping a foot away. I stared into the pitch black.
“Talk to it, Robin,” Travis said, then added in a mutter, “This isn’t going how I expected.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I hissed.
“Because I’m the stepson. Dad will never give me a demon name, so I need money to buy one.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Look, we can help each other, okay? Amalia told me Dad is hoarding your inheritance. I can help you with that. Once I get the contract bonus from these guys, I can hire a lawyer. Whatever you need.”
I craned my neck to stare at him. He returned my look, earnest but also afraid. Was it dread over betraying his father or fear of his new business partners?
“Get on with it!” Karlson commanded.
Travis let out a sharp breath. “Please, Robin.”
Did I have a choice? I cleared my throat. “Uh, demon? Would you say something … please?”
Silence. Of course. Why would Zylas respond? He probably hadn’t been this entertained since being summoned.
“Demon, if you’ll talk to me, I’ll give you … uh … something … at your request.” I waited a moment, the three men’s stares boring into my back. My cheek throbbed in warning. “You don’t have much time left. This is your last chance to get something you want.”
Ignored again.
“The demon isn’t stupid,” I said over my shoulder, desperate for someone to understand. “He knows what you’re doing. He won’t speak while you’re here listening.”
Travis looked questioningly at the three men.
“This is moronic,” the new man said in a rumbling voice. “The demon doesn’t want to talk to the girl. It was trying to get her in the circle. It wants blood, not conversation.”