Chapter 4

Chapter4

Briar

It happens so fast.

Five separate voices snapping colors that correspond with the dresses we’re wearing. I barely have time to process the silky, light voice that says, “Red,” first, and then it’s done. I know I heard someone say white, but the static in my brain ensures I couldn’t describe the voice even with a gun to my head.

In the end, it doesn’t matter.

The lights come up, and I get my first look at the small group gathered to claim us. I thought Azazel monstrous with his crimson skin and massive horns. He’s nothing compared to the others gathered.

A rocky-looking creature with huge wings tucked back against his body. An obscenely tall, willowy woman who seems to be made of smoke and flames. A…I don’t even know what to call him because I can barely focus on anything but the tentacles.

And an honest-to-god dragon man.

My false calm ripples, and a hysterical giggle bubbles up my throat. I swallow hard, determined to keep it down. I agreed to this. I might not have understood exactly what I was agreeing to, but I was not forced, and Azazel has given his word that it will continue to hold true.

No matter how monstrous they are, can they really be worse than Ethan?

Thinking about him is a mistake; the memories of right before I passed out come rushing back, of blood on Azazel’s hands. My knees start to give out.

The woman in blue catches me under my elbow. “Steady,” she murmurs. She doesn’t sound any steadier than I feel, but I don’t have the strength to point it out. Nor the cruelty.

We’ve made our beds. Now it’s time to climb into them. With monsters.

I press my hand to my mouth as the giggle slides a few inches higher. Gods, I cannot lose control. Not now. Not here. Not ever.

Strange that I went from finding Azazel’s crimson form horrifying to comforting in such a short time, but as he strides up to the dais, part of me honestly hopes he’s about to tell us that the whole thing has been called off.

I’m a fool.

He casts a glance over our group. “There’s a secondary contract to be signed, and then you’ll be released into the custody of the one who claimed you.” He focuses on me. “You first, Briar.”

The woman in blue’s grip tightens on my elbow as if she’ll step between us, but what good will it do? I’ve agreed to this, and willingly. Changing my mind now is foolish and dangerous. I know what happens when someone with even a little bit of power gets told no. How much more does that hold true for demons and monsters?

“It’s fine.” My voice sounds perfectly normal as I carefully disengage from the woman in blue and take Azazel’s outstretched hand. The dais is only a foot or so off the ground, but the little tremors working their way through my body suggest my legs might give out at any moment.

Again, time seems to move strangely. It must be shock, because I’m nearly certain there’s no magic involved. I hadn’t noticed the six doors ringing the room. One, we came in through, but I blink, and all five of us are standing in front of different doors. Another blink, and I’m stepping through mine and into a surprisingly lovely room with bookshelves, a thick rug covering most of the floor, and a comfortable looking couch that seems designed for hours spent reading. Not that I’d know. Ethan wasn’t a fan of “lazy” activities, and reading was included on that list.

Azazel appears a few moments later, but it’s the hulking form behind him that catches and holds my gaze. All the monsters were huge, but this one… The dragon. He’s easily half a foot taller than Azazel, which means I’ll barely come up to his chest if—when—we stand next to each other.

He’s a strange mix of lizard and almost human, his head and face clearly leaning dragon, but his chest and arms looking more humanoid. Green scales cover the parts of his body I can see, ranging from a deep mossy color to one so pale, it’s nearly white. Two short horn-looking things spear back from his temples that look to be a good six inches long. He’s terrifying and strangely majestic, and he looks like he could break me in half without even trying.

“Let’s begin.”

I turn around and blink. A massive desk has appeared from nowhere. I didn’t even feel a change in the air to indicate something had happened. Why would the air change, Briar? The rules you’ve used to survive the old world won’t apply in this one. That horrible, hysterical giggle once again threatens to slip free. I press both my hands to my mouth and try to focus on breathing evenly and slowly.

Azazel sinks into a chair that definitely wasn’t there a moment before. “Please sit.”

A chair presses against the back of my thighs, and I jump, but my knees choose that moment to give up the ghost. I land on the seat with a thump that makes my bones rattle. I don’t know if I’m supposed to say something, but I can’t speak past the lump in my throat.

The dragon perches on a backless stool that has a half-moon carved out to accommodate his tail. I belatedly realize he’s wearing pants, and I don’t know why that detail nearly does me in, but I have to jerk my gaze to Azazel to keep from laughing. Or sobbing. At this point, it could go either way.

“This agreement will be slightly more unconventional than the others.” Azazel’s looking at me like I’m supposed to know what that means. “As promised in the original contract, you will not be coerced or forced, but you will allow Sol the opportunity to seduce you.”

Seduced by a dragon. Sure. Why not?

The demon seems to be waiting for a response, so I give a jerky nod.

“However, dragon culture is a bit more…” He shoots a dark look at the dragon—at Sol. “Stringent. With that in mind, you’ll be married for the duration of your time in our realm to avoid any unnecessary messiness.”

“What?” It takes both of them staring at me to realize that squeaking word came from me. It should be enough to scare me into silence, but my brain has clicked offline. “I can’t marry him. I’m already married.”

“Ah.” Azazel examines his black-clawed fingertips. “Technically, you’re a widow.”

Because he killed Ethan.

“Then I never want to get married again.” It might be the dream we’re sold as children, to end up standing before the altar with someone who loves you above all others and will be a partner against anything life throws at you, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. Marriage is a bear trap closing around your leg, and the best you can do is cut off the appendage to get free and hope you don’t bleed to death in the aftermath.

Having Ethan as a husband nearly killed me. How much worse will it be being married to a literal monster?

As if divining the direction of my thoughts, Azazel cuts in, “Similar to the contract that you signed with me, this contract will ensure the prescribed behavior on both parties’ behalf. You won’t be harmed.”

I laugh bitterly. “Sure.” There’s no choice, though. Maybe there never was. Before I can talk myself out of it, I scoot forward, grab the pen next to the contract, and sign at the line above my name.

“Azazel—” It’s the first time Sol has spoken since entering the room. I thought his voice would be sibilate, but I suppose dragons and snakes are hardly the same thing. Even so, I don’t expect how deep the word is. He actually reaches out to grab my wrist but stops before making contact.

I stare at his hand; he could close it around my entire upper arm. My thigh. Maybe even my waist.

He’s going to break me.

Sol makes a low hissing noise. “You never said she has a history of damage.”

Damage.That’s one way to put it. It might even be the truth.

“I’m a bargainer demon, dragon. Healthy, well-adjusted humans don’t make bargains with demons. You chose. Deal with it.”

The dragon hesitates for a long moment, clearly debating internally, before he takes the pen. It looks absurd in his scaled hand, but the size difference doesn’t stop him from signing with a flourish. The sizzling feeling from last time surges through me and then disappears before I have a chance to tense. “Payment will be transferred over as soon as I return to the keep.”

“Perfect.” Azazel flicks a glance at me. “Keep in mind the stakes.”

I blink. “You’re speaking English.”

Azazel is the one who answers. “There’s a translation spell in effect for you. Anything spoken in your presence will be automatically translated in your mind.”

Sol makes another of those hissing sounds. “Why doesn’t she know about the spell, Azazel?”

“She was unconscious upon arriving. It was taken care of along with…” He stops short. “It hardly matters. It’s done.”

The dragon looks at me. “It’s inked on your body, but the spell is linked deeper. It cannot be removed, even if the skin is.”

“Are you planning on skinning me?” Once again, I blurt out the words without thinking.

“He’s not.” Azazel stands slowly. “If you harm so much as a hair on her head, your territory will be forfeit. The magic binding in the contract will know.”

His territory.

I slump back against my chair. Well, fuck, I suppose that’s a big enough stick to ensure good behavior, even from monsters. For the first time, it strikes me that Azazel has his own reasons for arranging this auction. Surely he has enough money that he doesn’t need payment, no matter how much he’s charging these monsters for us. If territories are on the line, that sounds a whole lot like a different word for kingdom or country. Either the demon really intends to keep us from harm…or he intends to ensure he takes every territory he can in payment.

If I were a betting woman, I would bet on the latter.

Azazel picks up the contract, and it vanishes in a surge of shadows in his palm. “Ramanu will be along periodically to check on Briar. If you need anything, ask them and they will provide it.” He glances at me. “Seven years and then you’re free.”

I was married to Ethan for thirteen. Surely I can survive this dragon for half that. A small price to pay for freedom. Or that’s what I tell myself as I fight to my feet and follow the dragon out the door behind Azazel that I’m certain wasn’t there before.

Sol opens it and steps back, motioning for me to precede him through. Instinct demands I don’t leave him at my back, but what does it matter? He’s a predator, from his size to his claws to the teeth he’s flashed that are obviously meant for ripping and tearing prey. Having him behind me simply means I won’t see my death coming.

I find that thought strangely comforting, which worries me a little bit. I take a breath and step through the doorway…into another world entirely.