Page 38 of Necromancers Don't Raise

“It wouldn’t work on you, would it?”

“No, but I’m fond of the bald turtle with mold toupee look. It’s rather endearing.”

I laughed, although my heart squeezed. Endearing was what you found your great-aunt who couldn’t hear or see properly. “I guess so. Bones is adorable.” And we were both Mercury’s precious dead.

“Did you hear that, Bones? You’re adorable.”

“Thank you, Miss Nova,” Bones called from the pantry.

“About the job…” he began slowly.

I put down my spoon and focused all my attention on him.

“Your eyes are a very fine shade of aquamarine, similar to the gems in a set I have for an auction coming up.”

I raised my brows at that. “My eyes match your gems? How unusual and exciting! What does that have to do with a job?” I had a bad feeling about this.

“I would pay you to wear them during the auction to display them for potential bidders.”

I sat back, no longer having an appetite. Yep, my bad feeling was full-blown panic. “I look like a turtle in a toupee, but you want me to model your gems? You can’t be serious.”

He frowned at me. “You do not actually resemble a turtle of any kind, Miss Nova. If you don’t want the job, then simply stay here, relying on my kindness for the rest of your life. Which will be a very long time as you’re immortal.” He smiled suddenly. “Think of the meals you and Bones could create.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “Do I look like a cabaret dancer to you?”

“No, but you won’t be doing cabaret, unless you feel it suits the stones. There will be music playing, but it’ll be a stringquartet. Do they have quartets at cabarets? I’m not French enough to be certain.”

I sighed heavily and grabbed his hand. “Mercury, I don’t think that this is a good business decision. No one’s going to want stones that I’m advertising. If you wanted to hire me to find models for your wares, then I could…”

“No. This is the job. Take it, or leave it.” He leaned back, eyeing me through lowered lids lazily, but there was a shark behind that apparent disinterest, also quite a lot of anger. Was he still angry about yesterday? Of course he was. And if I thought about it, Mr. Good sending his shadow shifter to distract Mercury while Retta tested me, I’d be more than a little terrified. Happily, I could focus on this new, more immediate threat to my mental health and happiness.

I swallowed hard.

“My knee doesn’t look good. Until it’s healed…”

“It’ll be perfectly well by then.”

“I’m not model material. If you’re trying to attract customers, particularly rich ones who tend to be incredibly biased towards looks, you’ll want someone else.”

“You are unwilling?”

“I don’t want to be a disadvantage to you.” I desperately, desperately didn’t want to mess up a job he gave me. There were so many things I could still do, but using my looks? Now? It was impossible.

“Then dress well, do hair things, makeup, glamour, whatever you need. Spare no expense. This is a serious undertaking, and I’m trusting you to do your best.” He eyed me intently. “I can trust you to make the most of your new appearance, can’t I? I want people to think that you are a treasure, to match the treasures you will wear.”

I stared at him while I held very still and considered. Rare treasure? My looks were certainly unique, particularly with thewhite hair. I had a lot of experience in styling, makeovers, and marketing. I could probably put together something that showcased whatever he had with all the tools at my disposal. I didn’t know anything about glamours, but I knew about presentation. If I could use a glamour, maybe I’d be okay.

“Show me what you want displayed.”

His lips curved in the most delicious smile imaginable. “Of course, but first, you will eat your breakfast.”

After I ate as much as my nervous stomach would let me, he led me down a set of stairs I’d never used before. “In my gallery, it is spelled to turn anyone who touches anything to stone. So, until I’ve let the gallery know that you are like Bones, free to touch what you like, stay by my side and touch nothing.”

Yes, I was like Bones, his precious dead. “Stone? Do you have a hall filled with stone statues of would-be thieves?”

“No. I don’t leave anyone stone, and the experience is unpleasant enough that very few have made a second attempt after being released.”

“Is it as unpleasant as being raised from the dead?”

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