Page 23 of Bound By the Wraith: Northern Realms

Honk nodded. “But I could not live. Father was evil human, trying to control magic. I died and killed my unicorn mother.”

There was a hint of sadness in Honk’s little voice, their scaly tail flicking back and forth. There was no way she would guess that Honk was part unicorn, but she never really got a look at them before, and now she could see the subtle elongation of their face, the tiny nub of a horn.

“So, you died and Cillian saved you?” Cali asked.

Honk nodded. “Yes. Saved me, but other half siblings were not so lucky. Some died, lost into the Styx, and then others, he turned because they displeased him. Honk he saved from mother’s dying womb.”

There was complete admiration in Honk’s voice for Cillian, but there was also sadness as they gazed up at the topiary of the unicorn. A longing that she knew now, well. There was always a part of her that longed for a loving and caring mother. Growing up with her ultrareligious zealot parents, she never really felt loved or like she belonged. Now, she knew there was someone out there who thought she was dead, that was mourning her.

Maybe a mother who would love her.

“You can always find out.”

Cali recognized that voice and it sent a ripple of dread down her spine. Honk squealed as if in pain and ran away, completely bolted and left her alone in the presence of the being she had originally sold her soul to. The one Simon had conjured up.

Gootch.

He was brown and moist, like a rotting sponge or slug thing as he slithered across the pavement toward her, leaving a trail of slime.

Her skin crawled, and she backed up against the unicorn topiary, because there was nowhere else to run or turn. She felt trapped, an energy was holding her captive there.

“What’re you doing here?” she questioned, trying to put on some false bravado. Of course, the last time that happened, that elf princess almost tore her scalp off and threatened to kill her.

“Just checking in on an asset,” Gootch replied, and she immediately got the insinuation that he was checking in on her, but she wasn’t his anymore. Her soul belonged to Cillian and she was ever so grateful for that.

“I don’t believe I belong to you any longer,” Cali replied.

Gootch grinned. “For now.”

She didn’t like the way he said that. It sent a chill down her spine, and then she felt a scratch from the topiary, the sting as it sliced through her skin, and she glanced down to see a bead of blood.

Gootch’s eyes lit up was as if it were Christmas and he grabbed her arm, painfully. “Virgin blood? So, he is living up to his end of the bargain.”

“Bargain?”

Gootch chuckled, but wouldn’t let go of her. “You don’t realize that he has things at stake do you, or that I wouldn’t have stipulations? He paid the price for you.”

It was a cold slap to the face, but really no surprise, because she signed a deal with Cillian too. “I don’t care. In a year I’m free.”

Gootch let go of his grip on her. “Who says that?”

“Cillian. It was the terms of our contract. He doesn’t demand eternity from me.”

“Oh, he doesn’t, does he?” Gootch chuckled, more like a gurgling sound. “Well, he might not want you, but I can relieve you of your magical blood. Your virginity.”

Cali winced and closed her eyes and could feel Gootch’s fetid breath on her neck.

“Gootch!”

The roar echoed across the courtyard. She opened her eyes to Cillian standing there. His black fingernails had elongated to talons, his eyes burned like red flames, and horns had erupted from his scaly gray skin. It was terrifying, but also a relief. Behind Cillian stood Honk, wringing their hands as they peeked out from behind Cillian’s calf.

Gootch let go of his grip on Cali and moved away. It was then Honk dashed across the courtyard and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward Cillian, and she had no problems being pulled by this little goblin unicorn thing.

“I meant no harm, Cillian. I was just checking in on things. I heard that Cali had found out about her mother and I was going to offer some assistance.”

Cillian snorted. “You mean by tempting her to leave and break the deal?”

Gootch shrugged. “Perhaps.”

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