Page 11 of White Little Lies

I winced. “Maybe, technically, but he never agrees to things for free.”

“You are the one who brought him here.”

“Right, right,” I muttered. “I’ll take care of it.”

She had already turned away, reaching for a small brown package on the counter. She held my gaze as she handed it to me. “Don’t make me regret this, Eva.”

I took the package. “I promise I won’t.” Of course, with how she had reacted to Sebastian, I would just not mention the small goblin in my satchel. I didn’t thinkhewould ever be coming back to blackmail her.

Not wanting to disturb him, I braced the package under my arm. “I’ll see you the month after next?”

She hesitated, then finally nodded. “Alonenext time.”

“Of course. Bye, Seraphina.”

She crossed her arms to watch me go. “Bye, Eva. And get yourself away from that devil as soon as possible.”

I waved my hand back at her as I went for the door. “Trust me, that’s been the plan from the start.”

Unfortunately I didn’t think that would be happening any time soon. But Seraphina didn’t need to know that.

Sebastian was already standing when I reached our table. “Is everything well?”

“Well enough,” I grumbled. “But we need to have a chat on the way.”

He followed me toward the door, and something told me he already knew what the chat would be about. And he was quite pleased with it.

“It’s not wiseto involve yourself in the affairs of nymphs.”

I glanced back at Sebastian, the package now secure in my satchel with Ringo. I had told him that Seraphina’s situation was complicated, and required secrecy. “You know that’s what they say about devils.”

Safe on the sidewalk, I peered at the headlights of oncoming traffic, wondering what the chances were of catching a cab. I always delivered Seraphina’s packages to the Lower City Lake, never actually seeing the recipient. Normally I would take a bus, but I really wasn’t thrilled with the idea of doing that again with Sebastian.

“Where are you to take the package?” he asked, apparently not able to read my thoughts after all, though sometimes it seemed like he could.

I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Yeah, about that. I’m going to need your solemn vow that you will speak of this to no one.”

He lifted a dark brow. “My solemn vow?”

Gods, why had I even agreed to this? She was justone client. I should have told her to shove her package where the sun don’t shine.

ButI was a professional. And I had a reputation to uphold. “I need the promise added to our contract,” I grumbled.

I hated his smug smile. “In exchange for what?”

I crossed my arms, turning toward him, stepping out of the way as a couple of loud teenagers barreled past us. “You’re the one who insisted on coming with me, now you’re risking me my client. Can’t you just add it in?”

He leaned toward me, shortening himself to put us at eye level. “Now where is the fun in that?”

“It’s not about fun,” I snapped. “This job is important to me. I won’t let you endanger my client.”

His dark magic prickled up my skin as he smiled. “I will add it into the contract.”

My shoulders slumped with relief. “Great—

“If you agree to keep my card on you atalltimes. No more leaving it behind. Not even when you go to the Bogs.”

I clenched my hands into fists. “That issonot an even trade.”

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