Page 37 of Reap & Sow

If she could not have sleep, she would have answers.

Eleven

Lacking a cloak, Eda made do with her borrowed blanket. She wrapped it about her shoulders and crept outside, circling the cabin to shuffle down the narrow walkway. The barge rocked imperceptibly.

She wasn’t trying to be quiet, but the incredulous eyebrow Kit turned her way made her feel like a rampaging ox. “Really,” he drawled, “where are your sea legs?”

“We’re on a river.”

His mouth twitched.

Eda mustered her resolve and sat down, leaving a sensible distance between them.

She’d never have sat uninvited like this with Mr. Night. Demons were dangerous, no matter the mask they wore. But while Mr. Night was unfailingly cordial, Kit’rath Ansellis was brash, sharp-tongued, and lacked a verbal filter. It was oddly reassuring. She’d known him a scant twelve hours, and already he’d shown her his true face.

“What are you doing?” Kit said as she nestled deeper into her blanket. His stare was scorching.

“Sitting.”

“And why are you doing it near me?”

“I wanted to ask you some questions.”

“Really. I’ll just throw myself off the side, then.” His scowl bled into a smirk. “Or perhaps…can you swim?”

“Why?”

“No reason.”

“Look, if we’re going to be stuck together for a while, I think it’s only fair that we clarify a few things. Starting with the Pact.” She stuck her hand out. “I want to see it.”

To her surprise, Kit didn’t hesitate. A length of parchment appeared with a twist of his wrist. Eda took the Pact gingerly. She’d never held one before. And this is mine.

The rust-red text was long dried. “Is this really your blood?”

“Has to be. In most basic terms, Pacts are blood magic.”

The hurried smudge upon the bottom of the page was hers. Eda’s hand stung in memory. “How do you draft something up so quickly?” She’d always wondered but never dared ask Mr. Night.

“Intention. Not all demons wield enough power to make Pacts, if they have the opportunity to come to this world at all. It’s a skill few are allowed to learn.”

A vague but interesting answer. Eda never considered that some demons could not make Pacts. But Lich had spoken about demon hierarchy. They had societies and power structures, just like the human world. Some were more potent than others. Mr. Night was one of six archdukes in the Otherworld, so his abilities made sense. But Kit…

“Does that mean you’re some sort of noble where you come from?” she asked. “If you can make Pacts and shape-shift?”

His expression shuttered. “I was.”

“Before, you mean. Robin said you’ve not left the human world in twenty years.”

The why was unspoken, and Kit obviously heard it. “Remind me why I shouldn’t just chuck you in the river.”

“Because I might catch cold, then hypothermia, then die. Which would violate the Pact, since you cannot kill me. Uh. You can’t, right?” She scanned the document.

“You’re under my protection until the deal is done. It’s all there.”

It was, she realized.

Clause 3: Until completion of this contract, the bearer of said contract must (1) inflict no grievous bodily harm intentionally upon the signee and (2) prevent such harm from external sources where possible. Premature death of the signee will result in loss of acquired years and deduction of the same from the bearer.