Page 87 of The Demon's Delight
I was in Hell.
“Glad to see you back,”Keplar greeted me from behind his desk. “On time, even.”
“Sir.”
His eyes roved my face, and he sighed. “So? Is everything resolved with your summoner?”
“No,” I said plainly. My bond was raging, I didn’t want to be here, and I didn’t want to waste time pretending about it.
“You’re not finished?”
“I completed her request, and she banished me back, so technically the summoning contract is complete. But no, I’m not finished with her.”
Keplar sat back in his chair, eyes narrowed as they focused on my hand rubbing over my chest. “Shit.”
“Sir?”
“You’re sure about the bond?” he asked, cutting right to the chase.
“Yes.”
“And it’s been completed?”
“Yes.” My blood flared, every time Hailon and I had satisfied the bond flashed through my mind.
“You have my congratulations.”
My eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Thank you. Sir.”
He crossed his arms, looking for all the world like he was preparing himself to have his day ruined. “So tell me, what have you come up with? What do you propose?”
I laid out the vague ideas I’d had, Keplar becoming more and more intrigued the longer I talked. “Do you think any of that’s possible, sir?”
He’d taken at least one full page of notes, and he scanned it again, giving a slow nod. “I don’t see any issues at first glance. It’s actually quite brilliant. I imagine Tap will be grateful for the assistance.”
I smiled, the first one in what felt like a long time. “I hope so.”
“Let me get the paperwork going on this. You know that’s always the hardest part.”
“Yes, sir.” My heart thumped, but I was wary. This felt too easy. At what point would I learn the catch to getting what I wanted? “What’s the trade?”
“Trade?”
“We’re demons, sir,” I said. “Respectfully, none of us do a single thing here unless there’s a benefit to us. We don’t take bad deals. So, what is it that makes this situation a deal worthy of you accepting it?”
Keplar sighed, then started to laugh. His smile was infectious, his chuckle a deep, resonant boom as it rolled around the room. “You’re smart, Seir.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever been accused of that, sir.”
He shook his head and leaned forward again, weight on his elbows. “I’m not losing you altogether, son. You’re going to get what you want, at least as far as I can manage. I don’t see any reason this won’t work to everyone’s advantage, honestly. You get your time on Earth with your mate, I get to keep my best traveler instead of losing him to the wastes, and your brother gets a little help. There’s no part of this deal that isn’t advantageous.”
“And?”
Keplar laughed again. “AndI look like my unit has its shit together. That we’re performing above expectations.” There it was. “Maybe I get a little push for my next promotion.”
“Happy to help, sir.”
“Go on then, get out of my office. I have a stack of papers to sign so we can make this happen. Make yourself useful in the meantime. Pack up your things and turn in anything that belongs to the unit at the desk. After that, report to the reassignment office.”
