“My team and I are looking for an enchanted amulet. It’s said to have once belonged to the great Merlin. Word has it that the amulet is a conduit between the owner and a powerful oracle in another plane.”
“Is this a hoax? Or some sort of wild goose chase?” I cracked a laugh, checking to see if I’d heard right. A mystical amulet belonging to a legendary wizard, powerful enough to connect someone to another dimension. My first thought was, this guy must be smoking something.
“I assure you, I am being very serious. The amulet exists, and I need you to help me find it.”
“Okay,” I said, deciding to play and see where this would go. “Have you got any leads?”
“We’re chasing one down at the moment. All signs look positive so far, and I’m hopeful it’ll help point us to the general location of the amulet.”
I nodded, acknowledging the information, humming as I drummed my fingers on the arm of my chair.
“So, what do you need me to do exactly?” I asked, lifting my brow curiously.
Ethan smiled at me thinly, and got straight to the point. “I won’t beat around the bush with you Miss Wyatt, since time is one of the commodities I value the most. I know you have the special ability to scent magical signatures, and it makes you one of the best trackers out there. I need you to use this talent of yours to help me and my team to find the exact location of the amulet.”
The tapping of my fingers came to an abrupt halt.
“Do I now?” I said archly, pausing to assess Ethan’s expression. “Then, why is it I can’t smell yours?”
There was a moment of silence as Ethan locked eyes with mine, holding my gaze steady with his. Then answering in a quiet voice, he said, “Perhaps I don’t have one.”
I sniffed as if scenting the air, then pursed my lips. “Oh no, it’s faint. But it’s definitely there. I just can’t tell exactly what you are. It feels like something between a sorcerer and a shifter…only I can’t quite place it.”
Now that got Ethan’s attention.
He smiled at me wryly. “Your reputation is well earned, Miss Wyatt. I can see why you come so highly recommended.”
“You flatter me. Now, are you going to tell what or who exactly you are? I’m not too comfortable dealing with unknowns,” I said, pulling a tight smile.
I watched as Ethan seemed to consider my request, but not unexpectedly, he smiled back, shaking his head. “It’s a long and complicated story, and not important to the job. Perhaps we should discuss the details of the job instead?”
My eyes narrowed as I stared suspiciously at the man in front of me, wondering if Ethan was even his real name. But this wasn’t the first time I’d encountered a secretive client. In the end, if the man was going to pay well, I didn’t care if his name was Troy or Gulliver.
“What are you offering,” I asked coolly, plastering on an almost disinterested expression.
“A hundred thousand dollars and a bonus.”
I perked up, both at the number and the promise of more. “What sort of bonus?” I asked slowly, trying not to appear too keen.
“A fifteenth century scrying mirror, crafted by Nicolas Flamel himself.”
“The famous sorcerer slash alchemist,” I blurted out, jolting forward in my seat, and completely forgetting that I was pretending to be indifferent.
“The very one.”
I sat back impressed, and let out a soft appreciative whistle. It was hard to belief such a rare artifact was being offered on the table.
Then something occurred to me. I narrowed my eyes at Ethan and said, “How can I be sure you even have this mirror? For all I know, you could just be lying – or maybe what you have is a fake.”
Ethan appeared unruffled by my scepticism. On the contrary, he even seemed prepared. Bending over to reach down to his briefcase, he opened it a crack and pulled out a standard sized document, and tossed it onto the table.
It landed with a small puff of air on a cluster of papers occupying the area right in front of me, sending a few sheets skittering astray.
“Blood contract,” he declared brusquely.
I froze, eyes widening as I looked down at it, wondering where the hell this guy had procured that level of magic from.
“Just who are you?” I asked sharply, head snapping up to glare suspiciously at Ethan. There was a discernible edge to my voice.
“Not an enemy. So don’t make me one,” Ethan said evenly, his expression and posture calm and poised.
My eyes narrowed to slits, but I didn’t try to kick him out.
This guy was way more capable and dangerous than I’d first given him credit for. And although he didn’t seem to be a threat to me right now, things could always change in the split of a second. It would be best not to let my guard down.
“Who the hell are you and what do you really want?” I hissed, demanding to hear the truth.
There were not a lot of people who knew how to obtain a blood contract, and even less who knew how to create one. Outside of very powerful or extremely evil demons and magic wielders, there wasn’t anyone else who traded in them. Unfortunately, I had no idea which category Ethan fell into.
And if he was one of those people who dealt in the dark arts, then I wanted to avoid him as much as possible.
“I told you who I am. My real name is Ethan Payne. I don’t have any ulterior motives, and I’m here to give a legitimate job offer to you.”
I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest sceptically. “And I’m just suppose to believe that?”
“Jasmine. I hope you don’t mind me calling you that…,” Ethan started. “Let me be frank with you. I’m interested and willing to pay for your skillset because I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, and this shouldn’t come as a shock to you – but I expect results. Results I think you can produce. Now, I’m offering a generous compensation package for your services. If you’re not interested in taking it, I can go elsewhere.” He finished, not at the least bit ruffled by my outburst.
I grunted, but unfolded my arms, losing a bit of the hostility on my face.
Ethan continued to speak, acting like we were having a simple chat over coffee. “Word on the street is you’re searching for someone. With the money I’m offering you and the precious scrying mirror – this would undoubtedly open new avenues for you in your search.”
“Oh, good. So you’ve done your homework then, I see,” I said derisively. “Come on. Tell me – what else do you know?”
Ethan smiled, and there was just a hint of smugness. “Is there more to know?” he asked innocently.
I scowled, which only made his smile widen into a grin.
“Are you referring to the fact that you’re a kitsune – a fox faery – a húli jīng?” He remarked, almost offhandedly as he waved his hand dismissively in the air.
His words made me suck in a shallow breath.
Those three names made my heart stop several beats. “You’re definitely not human are you?” I asked warily, a dreadful hunch growing in the pit of my stomach.
“Does it matter, Miss Wyatt?”
Yes, it does, you smug asshole. Grinding my teeth together, I rubbed the knuckles of my balled fist with the thumb of my other hand, hiding the action underneath my desk.
How the hell did this guy know so much about me? I wondered, finding solace in the knuckled ridges on my hand. Especially, when all I knew about him was basically his name.
I narrowed my eyes, hardening my gaze. “You know, many people have died trying to expose that piece of information about me.”
“I’m not surprised,” Ethan smiled faintly, completely seeing through my lie. But he had enough tact not to point it out.
“Miss Wyatt, trust me – you don’t want to make me your enemy. Rest assured, I will not spread this secret of yours anywhere.”
I looked back at Ethan mistrustfully, but at this point, I had little other choice but to take his word for it.
Don’t worry buddy. If you try to expose me, I won�
�t hesitate to put an end to you. Afterall, this was my most closely guarded secret, and I would make damn sure it wasn’t going to get out anywhere.
Everyone else just thought I was some average fox shifter with a gifted nose… The truth was, I was actually from the bloodline of an ancient species of faery.
My kind were virtually extinct, and there were many individuals and organizations who would love nothing more than to get their hands on me. So you can understand why Ethan knowing my secret would set my alarm bells off on high alert, and trigger my survival skills to kick in.
Sometimes you had to fight to survive. It was a dog-eat-dog-world out there.
“What if I decide to reject your job offer?” I asked, unwilling to completely submit.
“Then I wish you the best of luck in finding this person you’re searching so desperately for,” Ethan replied snidely.
I glared at him. Wow. This asshole seemed to have a real talent for pissing people off.
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?” I snarled, fingers twitching with the temptation to glamor him on the spot.
Ethan chuckled, seeming to read my mind. “Take a look at the contract. You have twenty-four hours to make a decision. I’ll be back to collect the document tomorrow either way.”
With that final statement, Ethan picked up his briefcase and stood up.
“It was a pleasure meeting you,” he said, throwing me a devastating smile.
“I wish I could say the same,” I retorted without shifting from my seat, making it clear I was not going to bother walking him to the door.
Ethan didn’t respond, instead I saw a sparkle of amusement flicker across his dark, striking, chocolate brown eyes.
Dammit. Even as I scowled, I had to admit he was incredibly handsome, and I was sure as night follows day, he was well aware of this.
This only served to make me dislike him even more. When it came to guys, there was nothing worse than a charming asshole.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
With suitcase in hand, he turned, and with a straight back he strode confidently out of my office, leaving me to stare at the contract lying on my desk, brooding over what to do.
I kneaded my temples with the tips of my fingers, feeling a headache coming on.
I only had twenty-four hours to decide what to do. The clock was ticking.
A Little Bit About Rylee
Rylee Winters is a lover of fantasy and magic. She loves to write romance stories about strong, kick-ass heroines and hot, bad-ass but sweet guys.
Oftentimes, she can be found walking dazedly about, distracted by her imagination and daydreams of faeries, elves, shape-shifters and all sorts of magical possibilities.
She loves to read, and one of her favorite pastimes is sitting down to a good book with a steaming, hot cup of tea.
Send her a message to say ‘Hi’ or let her know what you think of her books – she loves to connect with her readers! =)
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