Page 70 of Goblins Don't Count
Everyone else was quiet while my mother’s face turned several shades of purple.
I turned to Sashimi, his silky hair so sleek and delicious, sweeping forward as he bent his head, looking down at our hands, so tightly woven together. “Is that true? Am I your curse?” My heart pounded as I waited an eternity for him to answer.
He slowly nodded, dark hair swishing back and forth. “You aren’t a curse, but you were the one I chose for my bride. That first letter, you asked me to save your brother, not yourself, but I was certain there would come a time when you would beg me to save you from your life. I would wrap you in beauty, love, happiness…” He looked up at me, brows furrowed. “You aren’t the type who asks to be saved. I love that about you, but it’s also my greatest frustration. The closest you came was when you asked for a place to stay until you found another apartment. If Trata hadn’t broken you out of my vault, you would likely still be there. Instead, you poured your life energy into me.” He frowned. “That puts me in your debt, not vice versa. It wouldn’t be fair to lock you away when I owe you for that, but I am not capable of watching you throw away your life. Your mother is right about that.”
Wait. He chose me for his bride? When? Why? “You wanted me to be your bride when I was just a child?”
My mother spat. “The Goblin King has stolen away many children to raise to be his bride. I knew that we shouldn’t trust a goblin! He made me forget by being such a good sushi customer.”
Trata objected. “Corcarn wouldn’t seduce a child. I mean, he hasn’t even seduced Pretty Rinny as a grown-up, and she’d be incredibly easy to seduce, mostly because he’s worked so hard to protect her from all the predators, including himself. I mean, one demon got through his net in how many years? He just wanted someone who knew our language. Usually the Goblin King’s bride is isolated, lonely, and depressed, like his mother.”
Ebon spoke up. “The sushi girl disrupted his train of thoughts, his habits, sending him in a different direction. He was bored with war, and she gave him something else to think about. He wouldn’t ever seduce a child. He didn’t even allow her to continue their correspondence once he’d met her in person as it made her too vulnerable to him.”
Sashimi winced and gave Ebon a look. “Thank you. I’m sure everyone now thinks I’m much less of a stalker.” He refocused on me, his eyes burning in their intensity. “I am your protector. The bindings between us originated in the Goblin King’s need for a human bride, but you still have to ask me to save you, to take you away with me.”
I winced. “I really am your curse. Fine. I’m a delicate human who will definitely die if a greater demon’s unleashed on earth.”
My mother choked. “How is that your problem?”
I whirled around to scowl at her. “It’s everyone’s problem!”
Sashimi’s eyes glimmered. “Not if I put you in my vault.”
I thumped his chest. “I asked you to save me. Save me by helping me defuse this demon threat. You can put me in your vault after we save the city. Keep me wherever you want, but right now, we have to go to war. I need your help. Please.”
His eyes burned with intensity. “You are asking for me to save you? You swear yourself to me?”
Shivers ran all over my body. What was I doing? Did I care about him? Yes. So much. But he was the Goblin King. Who worked so hard to have an ethical relationship when he was bound with a compulsive curse. I touched his smooth cheek. “Yes. Save me and my city and I’ll swear myself to you.” I was already his, heart, body and soul. Even if he didn’t want my heart, he had it.
He smiled, sharp and sudden. “I’m sure someone’s told you to never trust a goblin.”
Yes. He had. Over and over again. “I’m sure, but I trust you anyway.”
Some of the gleam faded from his eyes.
“I always have,” I added, squeezing his hand. “And I always will.”
He held my hand painfully tight for a moment before he relaxed his grip and nodded at everyone watching us intently. “We’re going to war against a demon who can control the mind of anyone corrupt. He needs two more deaths to summon a greater demon. The helicopter will be here shortly. If anyone would care to join us, my…girlfriend and I would love the company. Mr. Raccoon is coming if he can stop stuffing his face. It’s time you made yourself useful,” he added pointedly to my familiar.
Mr. Raccoon looked up, shrugged, and then waddled through the rest of the food until he got to the end of the table.
You should bite him so he feels better about us riding to our deaths.His eyes gleamed and teeth shone.
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I leaned into Sashimi, breathing in the skin of his neck, and then I bit him. Hard. Snapping my teeth like I was a feral raccoon who didn’t know any better.
He inhaled sharply and pulled me closer to him.
“I’m going,” Tarn said, not seeming to notice the goblin's blood on my mouth when I turned to look at him. “Obviously,” he added with a smirk.
“Same,” Trata said, giving Tarn a look, like he’d somehow insulted her by volunteering first.
“I’ll go,” my dad said, standing up and giving me a mild smile. Maybe I didn’t have goblin blood on my lips.
“Not a chance,” I croaked, suddenly nervous. “You’re a cook. What will you do, gut any falling fish?”
My grandfather pointed a butter knife at me. “We will both fight the demons. And you will learn to respect your elders.”
“I’d love to come,” Criss said, all fluttering wings and delight. “It’s important to use life well, to burn bright in the living.”
