Page 115 of Steel Heart Iron Claws

“No.” My voice is hard. “We hunt a deer, not Sabine.”

“I’ve already set the rules of the game.” Artain swoops down to scoop up a handful of soil, weighing it in his hand. He says slyly, “No changing it now. It’s up to you to accept or decline.”

My mind churns as I try to poke holes in his proposal. According to Sabine, fae bargains can’t be broken. If he gives his word that she won’t be harmed, then he’ll be bound to that, right?

Also…it hurts like hell to admit, but I’m not sure I stand a sinner’s chance of winning against the God of the Hunt without cheating. I haven’t lived at Rian Valvere’s side for twenty years to not learn a thing or two about cheating. If I’m to win a competition against ancient immortals, it’s going to have to involve some sleight of hand. If Sabine is involved, she can help me win as she did in the Everlast.

I cross my arms over my chest. “If I win, then Sabine is free to return to Astagnon with me.”

Woudix leans in and murmurs a gruff warning to Artain, “Vale won’t stand for that.” His hand lingers on the dagger at his belt, fingers tapping the hilt.

“Vale isn’t our keeper, brother.” The veins on Artain’s arms bulge. There’s a strange ripple under his skin where his fey lines rest as if they’re about to burst through his human glamour. "Vale may be king, but the rules of the fae bargain are older than his reign. If I lose, he will have no choice but to grant Sabine her freedom." He picks a fleck of dust off his vest. “Anyway, I won’t lose.”

Sabine crosses her arms. “Don’t I get any say in the matter of my fate?”

Artain slings his arm around her shoulder. “Come, now, princess. You don’t mind playing the fawn, do you?”

“Get your hands off her.” My skin bristles with a predator’s ferocity as I shove his hand off her.

The fae fall silent.

Immediately, I realize my mistake and dart a look over my shoulder at Vale—who, fortunately, is still dealing with the landowners and didn’t see my hands on his daughter. He’s now examining a sack of gold coins, weighing it in his hand.

Sabine takes an exaggerated step away from Artain, throwing him daggers with her eyes. “I’ll play as long as it’s just a game. No one hurt.”

“You will be perfectly safe, my lady,” Artain assures me.

Woudix points out gruffly, “She’s only going to use her godkiss to help him.”

Artain flicks the fleck of dust off his fingers with an irritating shrug. “Two against one? So be it. It won’t make a difference—in fact, it will make it all the more enjoyable. Otherwise, I’d win too easily.”

“What is your wager, then?” I ask, throwing a fleeting look in Vale’s direction, wanting this bargain done.

Artain continues to brush the wrinkles out of his doublet. “Oh, nothing so significant. If I win, I’ll take what I always ask for and never get. Sabine, all night. When the sun sets, I’ll have her until the dawn.”

In one stride, I have his neck in my hand with a grip that I hope bruises his damn fae bones. “Nofuckingdeal.”

“Basten!” Sabine tries to pry my arm off him. I can smell her nervous sweat. Hear her quick heartbeat.Keeping her voice low, she hisses, “It doesn’t matter. He won’t win. He won’t get a minute with me, let alone an entire night.”

I bare my teeth. “I’m not risking it.”

“Well,Iwill,” she says softly. Urgently. “I believe in you. Us. Together, we can outsmart him.”

I stare into Artain's eyes, his smirk unwavering despite my grip around his throat. My fingers itch to squeeze harder, to snap his neck for daring to suggest such a wager.

Sabine squeezes my arm, a grounding touch pulling me back from the edge.

Slowly, I let out a breath, forcing the tension from my body. I unclench my hand, releasing him.

“Fine,” I bite out. “But you lay one finger on her outside of this game, and I'll gut you where you stand.”

He laughs, a low, mocking sound that grates against my skin. “As you say, Lord Basten.”

Sabine crouches down to scoop up some fresh dirt with her nails. When she straightens, she pours it into my open palm.

Artain holds out his fistful of soil—he lets the grains fall through his fingers.

I do the same.

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