Page 33 of Deadly Little Games

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We metMistral back at the village. He and the other goblins had fanned out, searching for me. Gabriel helped me down from his horse as a few of them gathered around us, and I found myself unable to meet anyone’s eyes.

Just how much had they seen?

Judging by the way they watched me, quite a lot.

Mistral put an arm around me, pulling me close. “You’re shivering. What happened? You disappeared into thin air.”

I glanced at the gathered goblins. “Maybe we should talk about that later.”

His hollow eyes widened briefly. It seemed that even with my help, fighting against the vines had taken everything he had. “Yes, of course.”

I looked at the surrounding buildings. Not a vine in sight. “So it’s safe now?”

“For now,” Gabriel muttered at my back.

One of the other goblins finally got brave enough to step forward. She had short auburn hair and olive skin, her eyes large and brown. She wrung her hands, then smoothed the skirt of her simple white dress now stained with dirt. “We wanted to thank you,” she said to me. “We know you helped save us, and youdidn’t have to. Perhaps the tales the old ones tell about celestials are misguided.”

I wrinkled my nose. “No, they’re probably true, but I’m not a full celestial. Either way, you’re welcome.”

She seemed a little confused by my response, but she accepted it with a curtsy, then scurried back toward the others. The rest of the villagers were hesitantly entering their homes, some walking around them to assess damage caused by the heavy vines.

I gripped Mistral’s arm as we watched them. “Wereallyneed to talk.”

“I thought you might say that.”

I glanced back at Gabriel, exchanging a knowing look. I knew it wasn’t really my business, but something had to be done. Without my help, someone might have died tonight. Perhaps many someones. I realized for the first time that finding the Realm Breaker wasn’t just about Mistral going home.

He hadn’t lied. He did want to go, but I was pretty sure he wanted to take all of the Bogs with him.

With my onlyclothing soaked through with river water, I ended up in the softest robe I had ever experienced. The burgundy fabric was lightweight, but tightly woven, and I sank into it as I curled up in a chair beside the fire with a cup of tea. The scent of chamomile and honey wafted up toward my face.

Mistral sat in the chair across from mine. Gabriel had excused himself to bring Ringo from his room to mine, but I knew it was just to give us privacy.

Quiet moments ticked by, until finally Mistral asked, “How much did Sebastian tell you?”

I lifted one shoulder, keeping both hands wrapped around my mug of tea. I was perfectly warm now, but keeping my hands on my mug would stop me from fidgeting. “He told me there was a bargain after your mother died. And now you can’t leave the Bogs.”

“Did he tell you why he did it?”

I shook my head.

“He thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. He thought I would die.”

My fingers flexed around my mug. I knew Sebastian was a jerk, but— “He wouldn’t do it just to watch you die. He would only go to the trouble if it would benefit him. What would he stand to gain from your death?”

Mistral lowered his chin in acknowledgment. “I see you’ve come to know him quite well. You are right. Although he did not share his ulterior motives with me, I knew there must be something motivating him. The only possibility I have come up with is that he hoped once I was dead, the magic of the Bogs would be his for the taking.”

I lifted my brows. This wasn’t even what we were supposed to be talking about, but I was dying to know more. “What would he do with it?”

“You mean you don’t know?”

I frowned, then shook my head.

“Sebastian doesn’t have enough power to return to the hells. He’s just as trapped as the rest of us. Every contract he makes is an attempt to gain power, enough power to travel back-and-forth as he pleases.”

“But he pops around like nobody’s business.” I waved my hand in the air. “How can he do that, but not have enough power to go home?”

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