Taming Demons for Beginners (The Guild Codex Demonized #1) - Annette Marie Page 0,76

was his name? Tae-min had mentioned it, but I couldn’t remember. Crap crap crap.

“Sit down,” he ordered, thrusting his beard toward the plain office chair waiting in front of his desk. As I sank into the seat, he picked up the cellphone beside his elbow, tapped at the screen, then set it down. He returned to squinting at his monitor.

I waited another few seconds, then cleared my throat. “Um, sir?”

“Impressive work last night, Page,” he grunted. “The MPD just issued the paperwork for your bonus.”

“My bonus?”

“For the demon kill. Two hundred grand, split seventy-thirty between you and the guild.” He drummed his fingers on the desktop. “They’re generous with bonuses for unbound demons. Want to ensure everyone is as motivated as possible to take it out fast.”

“Oh,” I said faintly, struggling to appear calm. Any minute now, he would ask about Todd. Someone had found the body and moved it. The GM must know Todd had been murdered. The MPD had to know. The investigation would’ve begun hours ago. “Is … is that what you wanted to see me about?”

He glanced at his phone, its screen black. “Your demon is a new House, is that correct?”

“Um … well, it’s rare,” I hedged.

“Who’s the summoner?”

I kept my expression as neutral as I could. “I’m sorry, but that’s confidential.”

“What about the unbound demon? What do you know about it?”

Fresh alarm blared through me. “What do you mean?”

His cold eyes fixed on me. “I’ve done a lot of research into the Houses. The unbound demon matched the descriptions I’ve found of the First House, but that lineage has been lost since the Athanas summoners disappeared at the turn of the last century.”

I froze, unable to breathe.

“They’re said to be the only summoner line to have possessed all twelve names. And your demon matches no description I’ve ever read.” He leaned forward. “Didn’t your champion mention family secrets?”

My mouth hung open, horror rooting me to the spot. The Athanas summoners. I knew that name, but not because I’d ever read about famous Demonica mythics of the past. Athanas was my grandmother’s maiden name. My mother once told me how all the women in our family had kept the Athanas name until my great-grandmother, who’d abandoned it before emigrating from Albania. I’d never thought to question my mom about the story.

Suddenly desperate to leave, I stammered, “I got my demon from a summoner. I don’t know anything about him or where he learned his demon names.”

“Who is he?” the GM asked again, leaning forward. “Tell me now, Page, and I can protect you.”

Protect me from what? Eyes wide, I shook my head mutely.

“I’m offering to help you, Page.”

“I don’t—”

An electronic chime sent my hand flying to my hip, but the sound had come from his cell. As he checked the message, I slipped my phone out of my pocket. Amalia hadn’t responded to my plea for contact.

“It’s a shame you won’t be more forthcoming, Page,” the GM grunted as he sat back. He tapped his phone on his desk. “You have to understand that building a powerful guild is expensive. When lucrative opportunities present themselves, I can’t pass them by. It’s simple business.”

I stared at him, confused.

“I’m sure you would’ve made a decent asset to the guild, but I’m afraid you aren’t worth that much as a contractor.”

My confusion deepened. “I’m sorry, what—”

He waved a hand, but his gesture didn’t make sense. I squinted uncertainly.

Behind me, a foot scuffed against the carpet. As I leaped from my chair, a hand seized my shoulder and something cold pressed against the back of my neck.

“Ori somno sepultus esto.”

Tingling magic swept over me, followed by suffocating numbness. My limbs collapsed. As I crumpled to the floor, my vision dimmed and my ears filled with buzzing.

A chair dragged across the carpet, then footsteps vibrated closer.

“I didn’t expect her to show,” the GM rumbled, his voice close yet impossibly distant. “Not after she killed Todd.”

“We warned you her demon is lethal. You shouldn’t have sent a lone contractor to take her.”

I knew that voice. Who … who was it …

“Well, at least I don’t have to pay him now,” the GM muttered. “I have two missing members to cover up instead of one. I expect a commensurate increase in my compensation.”

“It’s your fault your man died. We’re paying only for her.”

A harsh laugh. “I hope you know what you’re doing, kid. Once Red Rum pays you, they own you.”

The crackling noise overtook my ears. My head spun, awareness fading, then

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