“Well, of course,” he says. “But not about promises. Demons can’t resist a bargain and can’t break their word once one is made. Humans, however… say a young human being promises something of themselves as their half of a bargain, something big—their soul, their future child, a powerful ability only they possess—there’s a high likelihood that when the time comes to make the exchange, that human will get cold feet, turn tail, and run. The only thing that ties a human down to that demon or prevents them from giving their promised bounty away to another demon with a better offer is a binding magical contract. Hence, me.”

“Get on with it, Valec…,” Mariah urges.

Valec makes a face at her. “But in the old days, before brokers and paperwork, there was another way for a demon to claim a human bounty for themselves. Especially if that bounty is something they have to wait for, and they don’t want any other being trying to claim it in the meantime.”

My chest clenches, burning where the glowing mark had spread across my skin. Valec’s eyes soften.

“I’m sorry, powerhouse, but you’ve been bloodmarked.”

I press a hand against my chest. “There’s a demon out there who is waiting on me to fulfill a bargain?”

He nods. “Yep. And nothing and no one—in either dimension—can stop them from coming to collect.”

45

THE ROOM LOOKS at Valec blankly, waiting for him to continue.

“Wish I could tell you more.” He scratches the back of his neck. “Really do.”

Sel shakes his head. “Don’t listen to him, Briana. He’s trying to convince you he has use here. He’s made up some reason to give you information, hoping it’ll turn into a debt you owe him.”

Valec’s had enough. “You getting close to the edge again, Kingsmage? Jumping to the worst-case scenario first. Assuming I want to tie Bree to me beyond the bounds of this conversation. Keep her for myself?”

“Don’t you?”

“Well,” Valec considers, smiling with not a small amount of fang. “Yes.”

A minute tilt of Sel’s chin. “Watch yourself.”

Valec’s smirk blooms wide. “The difference between you and me, Kane, is that I am a transparent sort, who’s happy to say out loud all that I desire.” Brown eyes flicker to red and back. “You want the same, you just can’t come out and say it. Not really.”

Sel’s answer is a stunned silence. William flushes pink, and Alice looks downright disgusted. She pokes a finger at Sel’s face. “You watch yourself, Kingsmage. That’s my best friend and I don’t like or trust you nearly enough to—”