My hackles rose at the last demand. “Excuse me. You’re speaking as if I haven’t spent the last sixteen years of my life as a hunter.”
“You started when you were fourteen?”
“Right after my parents died. Chief took me in, trained me, and sent me straight into the field. In his world it’s sink or swim... and I’m a damn good swimmer.”
Fin gave me a look. The same one he had before when I tested his patience. “You may have sixteen years of experience, but I have a few more than that. I can teach you things, and maybe you can do the same for me.”
Oh. Trying to spin it like I could help him. The man was good at manipulation. If only I hadn’t worked with Hawk for ten of the past sixteen years.
I gave him the pretty smile he wanted and said, “Sure. If it’s what you need, I’ll train with you.”
Probably wouldn’t hurt anyway, I had been getting a little too friendly with my neighborhood donut shop.
“Anything else?” I asked. My first born? A changeling. A whole bevy of fairy jokes popped into my head. It would be fun to pelt them at him when I put him flat on the mats.
“No, I think that’s it.”
I swiveled in the chair and faced him. “Perfect. I have some of my own conditions for this working relationship.”
He waved at me, like some kind of emperor.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, Napoleon, first things first, you don’t use your magic on me. I don’t care what the circumstances are, if you do it, I walk... with my paycheck.”
He nodded.
“Next, there will be no unnecessary nudity between us. This is business and nothing more.” Despite the fact he was ridiculously bitable, I didn’t think I could handle an intimate relationship with him.
Especially since my version of intimacy included post-coital i
ce cream and a farewell high five. This stipulation was more for my protection than his.
There was that stupid little grin again. For a moment, I considered adding a nix sexy smiles clause.
No, that would be too far.
He folded his hands in front of him as he sat on the edge of the desk. “Anything else?”
“Yes. One more thing and it’s a deal breaker. When we find the Black Mage, I get to be the one to kill him.”
I met his gaze head on. No smiles or levity now. If he didn’t give me this, I would walk out of the room and go home. I would be sad to lose a crap ton of money, but know I did what was best for me.
After what felt like an eternity, he nodded once, stiffly.
Not exactly an enthusiastic agreement, but I would take it anyway. I held my hand out to him and he shook it firmly.
“Well, boss, where do we start? And can we rewind to that time in the café where you offered me a pony?”
He smiled, and I melted. The first actual genuine smile he’d given me, and it looked good on him.
“I don’t recall offering you an actual horse, but once we complete the job, I’m sure you’ll be able to purchase several with your paycheck if that is your wish.”
“Spending my own money on a horse is not the same as you giving me a horse. Obviously.”
I stood and stretched. I’d slept most of the day, but after a whirlwind of emotions from one spectrum to another, exhaustion weighed me down. “Why don’t you get the contract going while I eat dessert. Once we finish, I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“Of course. Go to the dining room. It'll be waiting, and I’ll get the paperwork started.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I exited without a backward glance straight across the hall. The splendor of the dining room hit me a second time, and I gawked until I caught sight of the chocolate pie on a plate where my dinner had previously sat. The bottle of wine was placed in front of it with a fresh glass.