Page 141 of Bedeviled

On the other end of Memnon’s office, the air shifts, and a large, male form shimmers into existence.

Then—

“I’m retired, you know.”

CHAPTER 34

I stare at the white-haired man in front of us, my lips parted in surprise.

I glance back at Memnon, whose face is impassive. His magic, however, is beginning to leak from his palms.

My eyes drop to the card in my hand. “Did I just summon you?” I ask.

Had I realized speaking the words would actually call this man, I would’ve kept my big mouth shut.

The very tall, very pretty man scoffs. “I’m not a demon.” With a flick of his wrist and a whiplike strike of his own shadowy magic, his power snatches the card from my hand and drags it into his own clutches.

I don’t miss the way Memnon’s own power surges at the action, flooding our side of the room with plumes of indigo magic.

“If you didn’t have to come,” I say, “then why did you?”

“I would tell you, little witch”—next to me Memnon stills at the name—“but it would cost you.” The man—the Bargainer, I presume—tilts his head. “I wonder what someone like you would be willing to pay,” he muses, clearly uncaring that he’s playing with a live grenade, taunting me in front of Memnon like this.

The sorcerer’s magic has already filled half the room.

“Careful, fae,” Memnon all but growls.

“Fae?” I echo, my eyebrows rising. The man is wearing a Def Leppard shirt, leather pants, and boots. Hardly the attire I imagine an Otherworldly creature would wear.

But when my gaze reaches the Bargainer’s ears, I find they’re pointed.

My heart begins to pound. “You’re exactly who we need to talk to,” I say to the man. If Eislyn is trying to rule or, hell, simply enter the Otherworld, the fae are the ones who should be notified about it.

The fairy pockets his business card. “Shame because, like I said, I am retired.”

And yet, he still hasn’t left Memnon’s office.

Memnon must have the same thought because he says, “If it paid well, would you make an exception?”

The fae hesitates. “Maybe, but then, my wife would have my balls.”

“She probably has them anyway,” I mutter under my breath.

The fairy narrows his gaze, his focus sharpening on me in a way that is decidedly uncomfortable.

Memnon notices it too because he moves around to the front of the desk, placing himself between me and the Bargainer. I see Memnon’s hair beginning to shift.

In response, the room grows darker.

The fairy’s gaze flits over Memnon. “I hear you’re a bloody pain in the ass.” He studies my soul mate a little longer. “And…you’re older than dust.”

This is the second time this fairy has said something about us he shouldn’t know.

The Bargainer toes the edge of the Persian rug at his feet. “You do, however, have decently nice taste in offices.”

Memnon lifts his chin. “Name your price.”

The Bargainer glances up. “Tell me your request first.”