Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

“Are you sure you aren’t here for other reasons, Devil?” Anton asked.

Of course I was.

I rarely joined him at his table, and only when I wanted something. My gaze flicked to Carrow. “My lovely companion enjoys the game.”

“She is quite talented.” The gleam in his eyes made me want to tear his head off and feed it to the old woman’s poodle.

I tightened my grip on my cards, pulling myself back at the last moment to keep from crushing them.

“And I’m going to beat you.” Carrow smiled mysteriously. “You won’t even see it coming.”

Anton leaned forward. “I quite like you.’

And I’d quite like to smash your face in. I looked at the dealer. “Next hand, please.”

As much as I didn’t enjoy poker, I’d rather play it than watch Anton leer at Carrow. The man turned his attention back to me as he idly took his cards. “What is your true purpose for being here?”

I thought quickly, needing a reason. He’d never believe that I was just indulging Carrow’s whims for poker. “I’m looking into starting an export business. Magical arms.”

I didn’t generally deal in weapons—or at least I was extremely cautious who I sold to—but Anton had his fingers deep in that pie. It was a particular interest of his, arming petty warlords in developing magical communities.

“Oh?” Anton’s brows rose.

“Yes. I thought we might find a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“Why not discuss it at a meeting with me?”

I gestured to the table. “I know how you enjoy this.”

“Wanted to put me in a good mood, did you?”

“You could say that. And I wasn’t willing to wait to speak with you.”

“Ah

, yes.” He steepled his fingers in front of his face. “I am rather hard to get ahold of.”

He made people wait for the hell of it, as a way to establish dominance. It was a petty trick that didn’t work on me.

At the edge of the room, a server entered, a tray balanced on her shoulder.

Mac, thank fates. She looked different, with long red hair and a round face. The potion she’d taken had worked wonders to change her into Anton’s usual server, though I could see the hint of green eyes that looked like her.

Carrow carefully kept her gaze on her cards as Mac approached and leaned down to serve Anton his drink. He leered at her and smacked her on the arse. I clenched my fist, barely resisting the urge to beat him. Ire flashed in Mac’s eyes, and her hand twitched.

We both ignored him, and she disappeared out of the room. Anton took a sip immediately, then another. His eyes went slightly hazy, and I felt it when the spell that protected him broke. Almost as if a window into his mind had been opened, and now I could see inside.

Carrow’s gaze scanned the room and, swiftly, I did the same, taking in the guards who stood at the edges. They were far enough away that they couldn’t hear, and as long as Anton didn’t signal them, we were in good shape.

“Anton, care to tell me what your hand is?” I smiled at him.

“An ace and a two.” Truth rang in his voice.

“Excellent.” I laid my cards on the table, no longer interested. “Where are the kidnapping victims?”

Real confusion flickered in his eyes. “Kidnapping victims?”

“The ones that your men have taken. Red eyes that flicker like flame. You’re the only one who uses minions like that.”