Page 18 of Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil

Heat tickled Dranian’s tongue. But he pushed the rest of the words out, standing tall as he did. “They told me I can handle youon my own. They have no doubts.”

Still, Luc remained quiet.

“It’s not surprising. I handledplentyof tasks on my own in the Brotherhood…” Finally, Dranian abandoned the groceries and moved to peek out into the living space. The TV was still on, though it was muted. Luc stared at it, uncharacteristically calm and quiet.

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Dranian asked, his natural growl filling the kitchen. “I said they don’t care about you—”

“I heard.” Luc cut him off.

Luc sat very still for a moment. Then, he lifted the remote and the TV sound came back on. Dranian grunted and headed back into the kitchen.

8

Luc Zelsor and the Bargain that Never Was

Contrary to common Dark Corner belief, being naturally cruel did not make Luc hate things easily. However, there were exactly five things he loathed with a deep, burning passion. Five things that made even his magnificent gumiho powers shudder.

The first of his hatreds he kept sealed behind a steel heart and fake smiles, never to be uttered aloud: A mountain god-turned-war fairy with too much power, too many riches, and not nearly enough intelligence to realize his only son had fled him.

The second: His mother. Who never came back. And who did not fight hard enough to keep him.

The third: Sea snail soup. An old female had made it for himonce while he was on a spying task in a western village, and once was enough. He’d been more ill than ever for days afterward, and he had vowed to never eat a snail again. Some things were not meant to be consumed.

The fourth: Arrogant fairies who didn’t know their place. It was simple enough. He just couldn’t stand to see beings less powerful than him strutting around with their noses in the air, their tone telling stories of self-importance. His greatest source of joy was humbling fools such as those.

And the fifth…

The fifth was a new one that had only presented itself after he’d come to the human realm and accidentally stumbled into a horrifying, wide-open stable the humans called a “dog park.”

Luc stared at the creature just inside the door of his new apartment, attached to a leash in Dranian’s hand, its tongue hanging out the side of its face, its panting loud enough to wake a sleeping fox.

“Oh…” Luc’s frown deepened. His hand slid into his pocket where his fox bead was hidden away, the gem promising beautiful, undiluted wrath to fall upon this animal should he choose to use it. “…dear,” he finished.

“It’s an assistance dog,” Dranian stated proudly, yet still almost too quiet for to Luc to catch. The fool was always muttering in hushed tones, and Luc wished that for once he’d just speak up. “For someone with adisability.”

Luc’s gaze tore from the panting, hairy beast. He glanced at Dranian’s scarred arm, then his face. He couldn’t be certain, but itseemed a faint shadow of a smile was threatening the North Fairy’s expression.

“Get rid of it,” Luc demanded. He would not ask twice.

Dranian dropped to a knee and began to pet the animal like the two were old friends, and Luc’s hand flashed up to plug his nose. The smell was more than he could bear.

“You can’t make me get rid of it. Not when it’s anassistance dog,” Dranian stated. His green gaze darted up to Luc.

There it was. The foolsmiled.

Luc dropped his hand, and his nose was instantly attacked by the wet fur smell again. “I’ll kill it, then.” He spun to search the living space. Where had he left his fairsabers? He vaguely recalled stuffing them behind the seat cushions of the couch for safekeeping.

“If you do…”

Luc glanced back over his shoulder where Dranian was letting the animal lick his face. Luc stifled a deep gag.

“…you’ll break the contract,” Dranian finished. He stood tall again, his chin slick with dog spit.

Luc’s cunning mind raced over the words he’d read the first day during his interview. It had been in the fine print—something he hadn’t even considered to weigh. Something about “service dogs”for those with… disabilities.

Luc’s hand came over his mouth. He was sure nothing had ever disturbed him more. Whether it was the shock of the news—that he could not kill the varmint before him—orthat this simple-seeming, failed assassin had outsmarted him, it left his thoughts in shambles and his supremacy choking.

It was the first moment he wondered if this North Fairy might really win and drive him out after all.

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