Page 30 of Wicked Little Tricks

“Not stealing.Befriending.”

His mouth twitched, but he didn’t quite smile. “Pure motives from a spy? I think not.”

I settled more comfortably onto the grass. “What do you want?”

“My master saved your life. Surely you would not choose to pay him back by loitering on this hill all night.”

My brows lifted as I tried to figure out what he was talking about. Then it clicked into place. The gate that had magically opened. It was magic all right. High goblin magic.

“We’re just fine here, I think.” Leaving my bag in my lap, I leaned my hands back against the grass and looked up at the stars. “Don’t worry, we’ll be gone in the morning.”

I barely had time to react as he grabbed my arm and hoisted me up. I held onto the messenger bag with myfree hand, pulling against his grip. I tried to shift, but his fingers remained vice-like around me.

He tugged me closer, leaning down near my cheek. He smelled like the earth, and vaguely of wood smoke. “You forget, night runner, this entire place is in part another realm. I’m used to keeping hold of slippery things.”

I hadn’t known that, but I kept my mouth shut. He started dragging me back down the hill, fast enough that I started to stumble. I managed to throw the strap of my messenger bag over my head and across my shoulder, securing Ringo, then I tugged back against his grip again, my boots sliding across the grass.

“I can walk on my own!”

He stopped, then tugged me close. I ended up with my hand braced against his broad chest, but he didn’t seem to notice. “Do you recall what happened last time you were a pain in my side?”

I went still. I wanted to be in control when I faced Mistral, not asleep in a prison cell.

“Don’t worry,” I hissed. “I’ll keep up.”

Still gripping me, he leaned close to my face again. “See that you do, night runner. I won’t rescue you next time you are destined for a troll’s cookpot.” He released me, then started walking down the hill.

I had to jog to keep up with his long strides. “Hey, I rescuedmyselffrom that, thank you very much.”

“Why do you think the trolls gave up their search so quickly?”

I stopped for a moment to glare at his back, but he kept walking and I had to hurry to catch up again. So he had chased away a few trolls. It didn’t mean I owed him anything. I had too many debts already.

“Devils certainly do takefine care of their lackeys.” Mistral sat in his chair by the fire once more. I had almost forgotten how attractive he was, and seeing his stern expression brought our brief kiss instantly to mind. His linen shirt, pale gray this time, looked smooth as butter.

Gabriel pressed his palm against my lower back, forcing me to step forward.

Giving him a glare, I walked toward the fire and the empty seat. As I lowered myself onto the cushions, Ringo squirmed out of my bag and climbed onto my shoulder.

Mistral observed us, lifting an eyebrow at me. “I’m surprised you kept it.”

“He’s not anit.” I crossed my arms and leaned back, turning my gaze toward the smoldering fire. “And thanks for letting me in,” I grumbled.

“I must say, when you returned for your report, I didn’t expect you to be chased by vampires.” I turned back to find his eyes lingering on my red silk top.

“Really? Because Ientirelyexpected to be chased by vampires.”

His stone gray eyes studied me coolly. Maybe he didn’tgetsarcasm. “What have you learned from Sebastian?”

I debated how much to tell him. I didn’t really trust him, but truth was part of our bargain. I didn’t want to accidentally break it. I knew what happened when you broke bargains with devils, but not with goblins.

Something terrible, I was sure. There had been magic behind our kiss. I probably should have asked more specifically about the terms. That would teach me to be so impulsive.

Regardless, with Sebastian almost getting me killed too many times, I wasn’t inclined to show him any loyalty. “He had me question a vampire named Lilith tonight about why some angelics tried to kill me. Apparently that is nowactuallyof interest to him. At first I thought he was the one that set it up, but now I’m not sure if that’s true.”

He steepled his fingers, reminding me of Sebastian. “The only truth you’ll see is the truth he wants you to see. Remember that. What else?”

I shrugged. The fire was making me sleepy…andhungry. It had been alongnight. “Nothing. He wanted me to ask you about Celeste, then he wanted me to ask Lilith about the angelics. Before she could tell me anything, some vampire I don’t even know tried to have me captured. I had to run, and I ended up here.”

---