“Which is?”
He shook his head slowly. “I can’t tell you that yet, can I? You’re either in or out. And you need to make your choice now. If I take you up to my apartment to divulge my plans, you will have crossed a threshold that you cannot return from until the mission is complete.”
Fear skittered up the back of my neck. But I already knew it was too late, that there was no going back. Because I was so close to having answers now. I needed to know what happened to Mom, and I wasn’t going to get another chance after this.
Now or never.
And the truth was, it wasn’t just that I wanted vengeance. I also wanted to get rid of the cloud of suspicion that hung over me at all times, that maybe I’d been involved.
With a tight chest, I nodded. “I’m willing to take risks. But since what I’ll be doing for you is dangerous, I’m going to need you to pay off my undergrad student loans. And I’d like to transfer to Belial University.”
He shrugged. “I can easily pay your loans. I can buy you a mortal degree if you want. But you cannot be at the university because Mortana would not be at the university.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You can’t just buy a degree.”
He looked at me like I was mad. “Of course you can. You can buy anything.”
I nodded, realizing he was probably right. My stomach twisted in knots as I realized I was about to undertake something extremely dangerous. “Okay. Whatever the dangers are, I’m in. Let’s do this.” I clapped my hands together. “And now I’m going to need you to show me where the bathroom is before your opinion of my dignity falls even further.”
Chapter 9
Blindfolded, I walked through what I thought was a series of tunnels. The Lord of Chaos held my hands to guide me, and it kind of felt like we were on the most fucked-up date in history.
After a minute of walking, I whispered, “What’s your actual name?”
“Orion,” he said quietly.
I found the sound of his name dark and intoxicating.
And as we walked in silence, I could only feel a wild exhilaration that I was actually getting what I wanted. Forget saving money. Forget breaking in.
Now, I would get to stay in the City of Thorns.
After a few minutes of walking in the cool air, we reached a set of stairs. With his hand in mine, Orion led me up the stairs until I heard the creaking of a door.
When he pulled the blindfold off, I found myself standing in what looked like a heavily columned Mediterranean palace. Everything seemed to be made of pale, golden marble. A splash of blood-red poppies bloomed in an ivory vase by one of the open windows. When I glanced at the ceiling, I found it painted blue and dotted with stars that glowed with magical light. On two sides of the room, glass windows overlooked a sea that glittered like blue topaz. This place looked nothing like the grim Atlantic. This place was paradise.
On a third side, the wall was open to the air, and a covered balcony overlooked the sea. There, an overhang shaded a bed with a white duvet. On the other side of the seaside balcony, a table was had been set up with two chairs. A warm, salty breeze filtered into the room.
Holy shit, his life was amazing.
I managed to close my gaping mouth, and I turned to Orion to find that he was on his cell phone. “Morgan? Please bring breakfast and coffee for two.” He hung up, then gestured to the balcony. “Let’s discuss my proposal out here.”
Before I followed him into the buttery morning light, I lingered for a moment to survey the rest of the room—the books lining the walls, the cream-colored sofas. Would I get to stay here?
A warm breeze rushed into the room, and I followed him onto the balcony. Out here, the sun dazzled over the sea.
As I took my seat at the table, the door opened, and a man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a crisp white shirt entered. He looked like he might be about fifty, in excellent shape, and sporting perfectly applied eyeliner.
Orion smiled. “Morgan.”
“Orion, darling! You’re up early, aren’t you?” He spoke with a lilting Welsh accent.
I smiled at him as he slid a tray of fruit, yogurt, and coffee onto the balcony table. But before I could open my mouth, Orion introduced me. “I have Lady Mortana with me. Former advisor to King Nergal. She was living in the City of Serpents, and she has returned here after a long time away.”
Morgan smiled at me. “Welcome, darling. I can see why you’d return to the most amazing city in the world. No mystery there.” Morgan nudged a bowl of fruit in front of Orion. “You’re not having the donuts today. You can’t eat junk and look nice forever, even if you are an ancient and powerful demon.”