Page 8 of Deadly Little Games
He was so distracting I didn’t feel comfortable enough to closely observe the room, but I vaguely noticed a comfy seat by one of the windows, and next to it a small wooden table stacked high with books. The other side of the room boasted a massive table with papers, glass jars, and various thin metal devices I didn’t recognize.
Crispin shut the door behind us, then stalked around me, once again looking me up and down. “She doesn’t exactly shine with magic.” He glanced at Elena. “From the way you’ve been talking, I was expecting a grand celestial spirit.”
My cheeks heated. “Excuse me—”
“Trust me,” Elena cut in, ignoring my discomfort. “She’s special. She has vampires, angelics, devils, and who knows who else after her. If anyone can help you travel the realms, it’s her.”
She had forgotten to mention goblins, but I wasn’t going to correct her. Maybe she didn’t know everything after all.
Crispin finally concluded his observation and went to stand next to Elena with his arms crossed. “It’s a good thing I trust you.”
I glared at both of them.
“She’s looking for her celestial mother,” Elena continued, ignoring me. “But she can’t fully shift.”
Crispin raised a brow. “Then why do you think she can help us?”
“Because a devil thinks she can learn. And devils know everything, in the most infuriating way possible.”
I couldn’t argue with her there. But them not knowing that I could fully shift, at least for a moment, might prove problematic. If Crispin could help me figure things out to find my mom, he would need to know the truth.
Unfortunately, I already only trusted him as far as I could throw him. Which was not any distance at all.
Crispin stroked his chin, once again observing me. “As far as I know, half celestials can only travel to the near realms, but if a devil has interest in her, you may be onto something.” He lowered his hand and grinned. “Either way, I’m not going to pass up an opportunity to study someone with celestial blood.”
I narrowed my eyes at both of them. “Yeah, not so sure I want to bestudied.”
Elena stepped toward me. “But you do want to maintain my father‘s protection, do you not? It would be difficult for you to continue your contract with the devil if you have to hide away behind a boundary.”
My expression soured. So that was why she had gone the extra step of offering me her father‘s protection. I already owed her a favor, but that favor was just to come here. I considered saying no, but after what had happened to Braxton… I couldn’t risk it again.
I gnawed my lip, looking back and forth between the two of them. My mind made up, I crossed my arms and looked at Elena. “I want your father’s protection to extend to my roommate. If you can make that happen, Crispin canstudyme all he wants.”
Elena gave me a wicked smile. “Deal.”
I frowned. “Don’t you need to talk to him first?”
She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I can make it happen.”
I looked doubtfully at Crispin. “And what do you hope to get out of this?”
“Knowledge.” With one arm crossed, he waved the other hand in the air. “Power. All of the usual things, of course.”
Oh gods, what had I just gotten myself into?
I sighed heavily. “I guess the only question left, is when do we start?”
Crispin’s eyes sparkled. “I will need some time to prepare. Can you come here tomorrow?”
I looked at Elena again, wanting to make sure she could actually come through with what she promised.
She met my eyes, and gave me a nod.
My shoulders slumped. “I’ll be here.”
4
Elena droppedme off at the golden gates with a fresh bag of wolfsbane for Braxton. Maybe I only picked it up because I felt guilty, but it would still make him happy, so why not?