Page 109 of Possession

“Well…” My mind whirls, face heating. It’s hard to think under pressure, in such company, and with stakes such as these. “Is money your only currency?”

Cera smiles, something almost like approval in her eyes, and it feels like I passed a test. “No, it isn’t,” she says.

“What about… information?”

“You know something?” She sounds doubtful.

I nod, the movement jerky. I want to be cool and collected like she is, fantastic and threatening in her black leathers, but I am who I am. “If you help me,” I say slowly, “then I’ll tell you what it is.”

She considers this, watching me with a smile. Circling her prey. “You tell me first, and I’ll let you know if it’s enough for payment.”

My brow furrows. “That doesn’t seem fair,” I say.

She lifts a shoulder. “I don’t work in fairness. Take it or leave it.”

I should argue and push, but no words come. Aris would know what to say. In this, I am lost without him. How he would preen to hear that.

“Fine.” I let out a breath. “Aris. He—”

“Wait.” Her eyes flit to Simon. “He leaves. This is between the two of us.”

“Like hell!” Simon says with fervor, fingers tightening on his wand.

Cera’s eyes narrow, and dread washes over me. She has stopped twirling her knife.

“He’ll go!” I say quickly.

Simon looks at me with incredulity, and I glare back. I don’t like the thought of being alone with Cera either, but this is how it has to be. “Fine,” he grumbles before stomping out.

“Slumming with mages,” Cera remarks with some surprise. “You do remember that kidnapping nonsense, don’t you?”

“You kidnapped me, too.”

“And yet, you summoned me.”

I bite my tongue. It’s obvious that she’s provoking me, but what can I do? She’s much stronger and has what I want. I hate being the weak one and so out of control, but here I am, yet again.

I remind myself of the sound she made when Aris snapped her arm and feel a mean, grim sort of satisfaction. She is stronger, but not the strongest.

“So, let’s hear it. I’ve got places to be no time to screw around.”

I take a nervous breath. She wants me to surrender it so easily, but my secret is my only leverage and I have no idea how good Cera’s word really is.

“Places to be, Mary,” she reminds me, an edge in her voice now.

“Okay…” Another breath. “Aris isn’t in me.”

Cera just blinks for a moment, then looks at the amulet with a wrinkling brow. “What?” she says, like this is ridiculous. Like I’m lying.

“It’s true,” I say firmly.

Her leave me and go to her knife as she spins it, though I know that she’s aware of my every breath. “He left you?” she remarks, head tilting to the side. “Aren’t you something like a pet to him?”

I should be offended, but I can’t think of a better word to encompass our relationship. Pet. It explains the sense of ownership. And does he not keep me on a leash, letting me roam, only to yank me back when I stray too far for his liking?

“He left me… yes.” It shouldn’t hurt to say. I shouldn’t care at all, but there it is: my greatest shame laid bare.

“But you’re still alive,” she says, eyes narrowing.

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