Page 51 of Wicked Little Tricks
“In return for you helping me win this game.”
I stiffened. “I thought I was supposed to help you collect a debt.”
“You are, a debt owed to me by your mother. The bounty on her head should suffice to pay it off.”
My eyes flew wide. “You really want me to turn in my own mother?”
“You really still feel allegiance toward her?”
I glowered, glancing at Mistral. He knew the full truth now, but I wasn’t sure how much Sebastian knew. If he had known my mother, maybe he did realize she had stolen my memories. I wanted to find her to get them back, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to turn her in to whoever wanted her.
Sebastian stuck his hands into his black coat pockets. “The angelics may no longer wish your demise, but the vampires will continue attempting to apprehend you despite our bargain. My protection can only extend so far.”
“Which is why Eva is safer here,” Mistral finally cut in.
Sebastian’s eyes held a flicker of fire as he shifted them to Mistral. “You believe she would like to live in the Bogs forever?”
“Only until the problem can be solved,” Mistral replied.
“Which you will needmyhelp with,” Sebastian pressed.
“Yes, help that you have willingly offered.”
I lifted a brow, turning back to Sebastian.
His jaw twitched. “I will finish things one way or another.” He looked me up and down. “But if I have judged you correctly, I’m assuming you would like to help in solving your own problem.”
I didn’t need to point out again that he’d been the one to drag me into the problem, because his interest in me had also saved my life. My mom might not have ever learned who I was, and the angelics would still be trying to kill me to keep anyone else from using me to get to her. And as much as I had enjoyed myself with Mistral, Sebastian was right. I liked to solve my own problems.
“I want pie.”
He lifted a brow.
“At breakfast. I also want pie.”
The corners of his lips curled, and he nodded. “Very well.”
I turned to Mistral. “Thank you for everything, but he’s right. Everyone believes I can reach my mother for a reason. Maybe I actually can. And as for the bounty…” I met his eyes silently, hoping he would understand. If he really just wanted to go home, and I could help him with the use of a mythical sword that I wasn’t sure I believed in, I would.
Reading my expression, he nodded.
Gabriel had left his horse behind to join us. “This is a foolish plan. The devil is no match for all of Ivan’s vampires.”
There was that name again, Ivan. I imagined he was the short man I had briefly interacted with outside Crimson Kisses. “Worried about me?” I asked.
Gabriel glared. “Hardly.”
I gave him a sweet smile. “Yeah, you’re worried about me.”
He abruptly turned away and walked back toward his horse.
I could feel Sebastian’s eyes on us as Mistral lifted my hand, then kissed the back of my knuckles. “I’ll be awaiting word from you.”
The magic inside me flared again at his touch, making everything tingle. I was a little breathless as I answered, “I’ll come back when I can.”
He released my hand with a knowing look, and I turned as Sebastian opened the gate.
I shifted slightly to step over the boundary, then looked back at the two goblins.