Page 22 of Deadly Little Games

She straightened, lifting her nose in the air and tossing her red hair behind her shoulders. “Very well. Whatever happens in this room today, we will speak of it to no one.Allof us.”

“And you may not tell your father,” Sebastian added.

Elena’s eyes flared. “He’s going to give me hell, but fine. But this only applies to anything learned here today. Crispin and Eva’s work in the future is fair game.”

Sebastian extended his hand and Elena took it, sealing the contract.

I glanced at Crispin, who still looked miserable as he watched the entire scene. It didn’t seem he had much faith in us, and he was probably right to feel that way.

Sebastian released Elena’s hand and turned to me with a wicked smile. “Now, dear Eva, do fetch this poor elf so we can get on with our day.”

I stood facingCrispin with my palms extended toward him. He mirrored me with a look of cautious optimism in his eyes.

Sebastian stood far too close to my back, whispering in my ear. “What happened with Braxton, Eva?”

I shook my head. I knew he was trying to help, but I had no idea how I’d shifted to save Braxton. “I don’t know. I was desperate to save him.”

Sebastian’s warm breath caressed my earlobe, summoning forth a trickle of magic. “Then feel desperate now.” He was like a dark force behind me. A literal devil on my shoulder whispering in my ear.

I looked at Crispin, trying to summon the same desperation to save him, but I didn’t even know him. And it didn’t help having Elena leaning against the nearest windowsill, silently watching us.

Sebastian lightly gripped my arms from behind, just the thin fabric of my shirt between our skin. “There are many realms that are simply pockets of space. If it helps, one such realm is likely where the elf is trapped. If he cannot escape, he’s going to starve to death. Or at the very least, go mad in his solitude.”

I stiffened in his grip. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but, “I still can’t feel anything. I sense the part of him that is here, but nothing else. I don’t know how to find a path.”

“Then think of your time with the goblin prince,” he whispered.

I inhaled sharply, caught off guard by his words. “You know,” I said through gritted teeth, “you’re really not helping.” I glanced toward Elena, but she showed no sign of hearing his words.

Sebastian stepped closer so that my back grazed his chest. He lowered his cheek against mine, making my breath hitch. “Would you rather think of me instead?”

My cheeks burned. “In your dreams, asshole.”

“In my dreams, or inyours?”

My neck heated along with my cheeks because he was right on the money with that one. “You’re not helping.”

“And you’re not getting anything done. I can feel your fear. You’re running scared, like usual.”

Anger flared through me, and along with it a spark of magic. “Listen you son of a—”

I started to turn, but he gripped my arms hard enough to bruise. “Focus on the elf, Eva.”

I glared at Crispin, even though my glare was meant for Sebastian. “You don’t understand. You were probably raised in the hells with lots of other little devils. You probably wielded your magic before you could even talk.”

“Poor Eva,” he taunted. “So pathetic. So alone. I learned my magic because Iwantedit. You’re just too scared to try.”

I wanted nothing more than to turn around and slap him, but I kept my attention on Crispin. I could feel my magic just below the surface, summoned by my anger. Not just anger at Sebastian’s harsh words, but anger that despite them, it felt good to have him pressed against my back. Far too good.

Crispin’s eyes had gone a little wide at our exchange, though I didn’t think he could actually hear us. Maybe he was a better lip reader than Elena.

“I’m not scared,” I muttered under my breath. But I was humiliated.

Wanting nothing more than to just end the situation, I pulled away from Sebastian, reaching for my magic in the only way I knew how—to shift across a barrier. With heat and anger and magic pulsing through me, I shifted as much as I could, then walked right into Crispin.

“Don’t!”

But Crispin’s words came too late, mostly because I could only hear them once I crossed whatever boundary stood between us.