Page 40 of Devils Don’t Deal

He raised a brow. “Meat bread?”

“Yes. I keep it in the back, but it’s my dad’s favorite.”

He smiled broadly. “We’ll do that sometime. When the shop isn’t as busy.”

I smiled back at him. Repeat customers were always a plus.

When we got to the observation rooms, I got to see the goblin leader chained to a table wearing nothing but shorts, so all his monstrous green goblin muscles were on display.

“When did he last eat?” I asked, frowning at him. He looked lean, mean, and hungry.

“It’s been a few days,” the goblin king said almost apologetically. “We can’t make them too comfortable until they’ve shown some signs of remorse and agreed to follow the goblin king’s laws.”

“Good.” I smiled at him then at Sato. “Can I go in?”

She nodded. “Sure. Try not to limp. Seeing your weakness will be like blood in the water.”

I nodded then went through the metal door into the observation room. I let my basket of goodies swing from my arm so the goblin leader wearing nothing couldn’t help but notice it.

He licked his lips and smiled at me. “What’s the pretty little crumpet doing down here?” The threat in his voice made me shiver, but I raised my chin.

“I wanted to show you that you failed. I’m still alive, and stronger than ever. You’ll never defeat me.” I let my chin wobble and tears fill my eyes.

He gave me the evilest smile, all curved upper lip with bared sharp teeth below. “Yes, you’re clearly too strong to ever fall. Has the devil seduced you yet? You’re too innocent to know what I’m talking about, but you will. He’ll teach you the ways of betrayal and crushed hopes like nothing else.”

I got too close to him and shook my finger in his face. “You’re a liar! He’s pure and perfect, like you couldn’t possibly understand. He doesn’t see how beautiful he truly is.” I let my eyes get dreamy and unfocused so I didn’t see him move until it was almost too late.

I lurched back, barely missing being sliced with his claws, but his fingers got the basket, spilling my baked goods all over the desk and onto the floor.

He gobbled up all the goods on the table while I stood there, open-mouthed in shock and horror.

“What are you doing?”

He flashed a smile then tossed the last macaron into the air, jaws open to catch it and swallow it down his throat. “Your precious Prince Charming is going to die, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re weak. I can smell your pain. Did she kill the rabbit? No? You protected it? Of course you did. Stupid girl. Don’t you know that if the devil dies, the deal is void and you get everything he promised you without having to pay for it? But you probably want his deal and dinners.”

What? She hadn’t gone for the rabbit, just me. “No! You can’t hurt him!” I gave him my biggest eyes and shook my head. “Why do you hate him so much?”

He curled his lip in derision. “You think I care about the Devil of Wonderland? He’s nothing. Weak. Distracted. He’s been getting weaker and weaker over the past century. Now he’s ripe for the plucking, and they’re going to pluck hard.”

“The Lady of the Wild Woods has already been destroyed.” I let myself feel the horror at the thought that she wasn’t actually gone. Really, wasn’t she dead? The rabbit had eaten her. But the goblin made it sound like the rabbit was the target, because someone knew the rabbit’s death would kill the devil. Why would I be the Lady of the Wild Wood’s target if the devil really could be killed by killing his soul? Although how you’d kill something that could morph and gobble up that much darkness was a question.

His eyes gleamed gold. “Has she? It doesn’t matter. They’re going to take him while he’s weak.”

“She can’t take him. He’s mine.” I raised my chin.

He lunged closer, and I jumped back with a shriek before he rattled his chains. “When they’re finished with him, there’ll be nothing left.”

“So you’re saying that the Lady of the Wild Woods isn’t dead?”

He snarled and shook his chains again. “The ones who hired us to make the deal to release the Lady of the Wild Woods will finish him.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at my basket then slowly up at me, dawning horror in his eyes. “What was in those?”

I smiled at him, showing all my sharp goblin teeth. “Would you like to tell me the names of the people who hired you? You would if you knew, but you don’t. You’re so incredibly helpful. Thank you so much.” I batted my lashes at him and stood up with my basket, turning to the door.

He roared and yanked on the chain until the stone creaked. “He’s still going to crush you! He breaks everything he touches like he’s going to shatter your heart. And then after you’re broken, he’ll turn you into a monster!”

I held still for a second before I kept walking out of the room, closing the door firmly behind me.

“He’s upstairs,” the goblin king said, gesturing me down the hall back where we’d come from. “He hasn’t made a mess yet, which is how I’d like to keep it. You didn’t tell your devil that you were going to visit my vault? It’s like you want to die.”