Page 16 of Wicked Little Tricks

I shook my head. Goblins were so weird. “And how old is Mr. Fussypants?”

The goblin, Ringo, I had learned was his name, cowered as if Mistral might overhear. “Cannot say, mistress. Older than I, at least.”

I leaned back against the wall again. I had done what I could to get out of the cell, which was basically nothing. My abilities weren’t enough to pass through iron bars, because I could only shift partially into other realms. I could evade someone’s grip, or pass over magical boundaries, but that was about it.

I looked at my now useless watch. Hopefully the water had just killed the battery, or I was going to be pissed. Either way, I couldn’t call Braxton, or anyone.The only way I was getting out of here was when the goblins decided to let me out.

Ringo and I both went still as the door creaked open again. I watched expectantly for Mistral to come into view, but it was only the goblin who captured me. He stepped to the front of my cell, then silently slid a plate of food through the grate in the bottom near the floor. It was roast beef and mashed potatoes.

He straightened to his full impressive height, looking down at me. “I’m told humans like these sort of foods, though I don’t know why we are feeding a spy.” He turned to walk away.

“I’m not a spy!” I called after him.

He stopped walking halfway toward the unseen door, but he simply shook his head, then kept walking. The door creaked shut.

I looked over at the plate of food as my stomach growled. “What are the chances that food is poisoned?”

Ringo hopped toward the food, raising his head high and low, observing it. “If they wanted to kill you, you would already be dead, mistress.” He looked back at me.

“Okay, so what are the chances that there’s some sort of magical compulsion in the food? Something to make me spill all my deepest truths?”

He lowered his head again. “Very likely, mistress. Very likely.”

I used the toe of my boot to push the food back toward the gap it had slid through.

Ringo watched me for a moment, then rushedtoward the plate before it could make its exit. He buried his face in the mashed potatoes.

I lifted a brow at him, though he wasn’t paying enough attention to see it. “Aren’t you afraid of any enchantments?”

He looked back at me with gravy all over his mouth. “I’ve got no secrets to keep, mistress. And those trolls caught me before breakfast.”

Shaking my head, I sat back to watch him eat.

I wasn’t sure if Sebastian even planned on paying me my normal fee, but for this, he would most certainly be paying me double.

Ringo snored in my lap.I sensed it was sometime around midnight, but with no windows, I couldn’t tell for sure. I absentmindedly pet Ringo’s soft fur, wishing for a blanket, and a meal.Anda very large glass of wine.

I barely reacted when the door creaked open once again. And once again, my original captor came to stand before me on the other side of the bars. Gods, he was huge. One of those big hands pulled a key out of his pocket, unlocked the cell door, then he lowered his chin expectantly.

Really having to go pee, I didn’t ask questions. I scooped up Ringo and hurried toward the cell door as he swung it open for me.

The big goblin gripped my arm, making me wince,then tugged me toward the previously unseen door. Now that I could see it, I could also see that it led to a steep stone stairway.

He tugged me toward the stairs, then motioned for me to go up ahead of him.

Clenching my bladder as best I could, I once again didn’t ask questions. I hurried up the stairs with him stomping up behind me. I had a momentary relief when I reached the landing without wetting myself, but when I turned the corner there were more stairs.

We continued going up. And up. I realized my prison was at the base of a tower. Probably somewhere deep within the Citadel. My legs burned with exertion by the time we reached the final landing, then the goblin grabbed my arm again and dragged me down a long stone hallway. More burning sconces lit the walls, illuminating the longest crimson runner rug I had ever seen.

He stopped us in front of a gleaming wooden door, which he opened, then shoved me inside.

Still trying not to wet myself, I took in the new space. There was a circular table with three chairs near a high arched window in the stone wall. Plush ornamental carpets covered much of the floor, leading over to a massive stone fireplace. Before the fireplace were two cushy burgundy chairs. I could just make out the outline of someone sitting in one of the chairs with his back to us. Since I had only seen two goblins since myarrival, I imagined it was Mr. Fussypants waiting for me.

“You will sit and behave yourself,” the goblin still gripping my arm ordered.

Ringo finally stirred, waking with a dramatic yawn. As soon as he realized where we were, his eyes flew wide.

“Okay, but I really have to pee. If you want me to behave myself, that’s going to have to happen first.”

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