Page 65 of A House of Gold
“What do you want?” Croesus asks.
“Compensation. You stole from me. I want payment.” Seraph sets down his glass. “I want to borrow your sin eater.”
The temperature in the room drops about twenty degrees. Croesus goes still beside me, the stillness that precedes violence.
“No,” he says.
“I’m not asking for her permanently. Just a loan. One week. One contract. One opportunity to see if she’s as talented as you claim.” Seraph’s smile is sharp. “Unless you’re afraid she’ll prefer my house to yours?”
“She’s under contract to me for a year. The terms don’t include loaning her out to rivals.”
“Then renegotiate the terms.” Seraph leans forward, elbows on his knees, suddenly intense. “I’m not trying to steal her, Croesus. I’m trying to understand what makes her valuable enough for you to break our unspoken treaty. We don’t steal from each other directly. We’ve maintained that courtesy for centuries. You violated it for her. Why?”
The question hangs in the air. Croesus doesn’t answer.
Seraph’s silver eyes narrow. “Oh. Oh. You don’t even know why, do you? You just... wanted her. Not for her ability. Not for strategic advantage. You wanted her.” He laughs again, delighted. “The angel of greed actually wants something he can’t have. This is fascinating.”
“Careful, Seraph.” Croesus’s voice has gone dangerous.
“Or what? You’ll challenge me?” Seraph stands, spreads his wings; they span the entire width of the hall, magnificent and terrifying. “I was Heaven’s finest warrior before the Fall. I’ve forgotten more about combat than you’ve ever learned about avarice. Don’t threaten me in my own house.”
I stand before this can escalate into actual violence. Both angels look at me.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I say to Seraph.
“Raven, no!” Croesus starts.
I ignore him. “You want to see if I’m as good as Croesus claims? Fine. Give me a contract. Right now. One of yours. Something you think I can’t break. If I succeed, you drop your demand for compensation, and we’re even. If I fail, I’ll come work for you for a week.”
Seraph’s expression shifts from anger to interest. “You’re offering yourself as a wager?”
“I’m offering proof.” I cross my arms. “You think Croesus stole from you because I’m valuable. I’m telling you I’m valuable because I’m good. Give me your hardest contract, and I’ll break it. Right here. Right now.”
Silence. Seraph flicks his eyes at Croesus, who looks ready to murder me. Then back to me.
“You have courage. Probably more than sense, but courage.” He considers. “Very well. I have a contract that’s been...problematic. Seven years old. The human has been trying to break it herself, unsuccessfully. Pride has rooted deep; she can barely function anymore.” He pulls a silver vial from his pocket and takes a swig. “Her name is Claire Sutton. She’s upstairs in one of my guest rooms, dying slowly of her own perfection. If you can break her contract and purge the pride without dying yourself, I’ll consider us even.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then you’re mine for a week, and Croesus can watch while I teach you what real excellence looks like.” His smile is sharp. “Do we have a deal?”
I should have asked Croesus. Should have considered the implications. Should have thought about what happens if I fail.
Instead, I hold out my hand. “Deal.”
Seraph’s hand is cool and smooth when he shakes mine. The touch sends a shiver up my arm, not fear, exactly. Something else. Recognition, maybe. Like my angel blood recognizes his.
“Wonderful.” He releases my hand. “Follow me. Let’s see if you’re worth the trouble you’ve caused.”
As we walk through the pristine halls, Croesus leans close and hisses in my ear: “What the hell are you doing?”
“Proving a point.”
“You’re playing games with an angel who invented pride.”
“Then I’d better not lose.” I glance at him. “Trust me.”
His expression says he absolutely does not trust me, but he follows anyway.
