Page 96 of How to Seduce a Slender

“You and Smith are together now. It’s not an official marriage but he’s officially lawyered his way into all your contracts. You’re stuck with him. Might as well be a marriage. And knowing Smith, it is not likely the pair of you will move out. Not with Sebastian needing Smith at his beck and call, and I rather enjoy your company so—the point being that you’re a part of the family now, officially. And thus, it’s kind of tradition to get your own space.”

Melody sank back on her seat, mulling over Dahlia’s words. She was a part of the family. Officially, struck her deal in eldritch blood, or whatever. She was contractually obligated to the Witch of the Woods, and emotionally invested in Smith.

“Did you have somewhere in mind?” Melody arched a brow.

Dahlia smirked, “I do, actually! Come with me.”

The Lady of the House raced to grab up Melody’s arm and drag her through the kitchen and down the darkened hallway. “Now, I had no idea this room existed until I moved all my mother’s artwork in and was looking for places to stash it. Then I got to thinking how you needed your own workshop and I think it’s perfect.”

“Perfect?” Melody snorted only to immediately take it back as she let out a gasp. Massive, swirling windowpanes crested over an open marble floor. It was like sitting in the middle of the farm without having to fight Bessy for dominance. Melody stood at the center of the dusty room, following the tentacles that framed the irregularly shaped panes of glass. Like a kraken had captured a glass globe she was standing in. The opposite wall of the backyard was covered in spiderwebs but empty. “Perfect.”

“I won’t lie, I was going to use it as an inside greenhouse when I first stumbled upon it but…what do you think? I think it’s the perfect elbow room for all the portraits I’m going to commission from you plus any other art you wish to pursue. Who knows, maybe sculpting is in your future.”

Melody spun to face Dahlia with her face fallen. “You mean it?”

“Oh, I’m not the kind of eldritch that can see the future,” Dahlia chuckled as she shook her head.

Melody shook her head with a laugh. “I meant that I could make this into my workshop?”

“Why else would I show it to you?” Dahlia cocked her head, hands on her hips. “Not sure about yourself, but I’m not in the business to tease someone or be teased, despite my husband’s best efforts. If you want it, it’s yours.”

Melody nodded her head vigorously.

Havershum immediately dropped out of the ceiling with a sigh of relief. “Good, because I scared all the ghouls out of here this morning, and I’d hate to have scattered them for no reason.”

“No, you don’t,” Dahlia shot at the wraith. “You love that.”

“I do,” He giggled evilly before clacking his boney jaw for good measure. “So, what’s going in here?”

“Grab Austin, we’ve got a bunch of art supplies to drag in here!”

Chapter Thirty-Four:

Smith

“Oldfriend,knock,knock.”Sebastian grinned cheekily. Smith was taken aback at his blasé lack of wearing a mask. He stepped inside the room. “See, how easy it is to announce yourself? And not explode into a room?”

Smith scowled, tapping his long fingers against the desk. “Can I help you sir?”

“Probably not,” Sebastian sighed as he slid into the room further. Smith eyed him, suddenly a weight pressing down on his slender shoulders. Sebastian took a seat across from his desk. Despite hundreds of years of service, Smith still never could tell what ached in Sebastian’s chest until he said something. Most everyone was so readable. They wore their emotions on their sleeves. But the Lord Rosemont was a puzzle, always twisting and turning in all his parts.

Probably why they were such good friends.

Sebastian flicked two fingers and the door to Smith’s office shut. A silencing spell fell over the room and that’s when he realized this wasn’t just a playful conversation about life or magic or anything they normally talked about.

“Smith, are you happy in my service?”

“Of course, you would know if I wished to leave. It’s in our contract.” Smith folded his hands over the desk.

“It’s also in our contract that you’ll be a spy for me, within the city walls. All those years ago when I feared remaining in the city might turn thing sour. I asked you to find a way to keep an eye on things. And if possible, find me leverage. As always, you delivered. You always do. You’re the very best and now I’m worried, that perhaps, I’ve robbed you of other opportunities to do something…else.”

Smith chortled, tossing himself back in his chair. “Preposterous, sir, what else would I be doing? Guiding traffic?”

“You do make a great lamp post,” Sebastian laughed. Despite his downcast gaze, there was a warmth on his cheeks.

“But you’re worried I had other plans for myself?” Smith exhaled softly.

“All these conversations about Elyth, what she’s done and what she did to my best friend, it ruins my mind. It has plagued me since the moment we found out it was her and the curtain hiding the villain was pulled back. I keep thinking back to the day we struck a deal. I worry if I did not collar you myself, even if my leash is nonexistent, you are still mine.” Sebastian finally looked up, locking onto Smith’s face. “If I commanded it, you are at my beck and call.”

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