AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His fingers went white, clutching the purse. “Whatever you think you know—”
“What I know is that you and the Hell Boys are pushing a little too hard to make money. Announcing your powers are for sale at the placement. Letting your best and sluttiest salesman loose on the school. Inviting Sisypheans to a Titan party, even though that was never going to turn out well, and now I catch you blackmailing scared little novices in the woods.
“Whatever it is you’re up to, and whatever you need the money for, I’m going to bet the last thing you want is Headmaster Drakos to stop you. You—”
“What do you want?”
I made a noise in my throat. “Wow. Just like that? Not going to deny it?”
“We don’t have time for that,” he snapped, glancing over my shoulder. “Damien figured you got lost and is coming this way, looking for you. What will it take to keep you from talking to Drakos?”
“You don’t tell a soul, living or dead, about me, where I’m from, Alexander, or what we’re searching for. You also stop blackmailing people,” I said. “If they want to buy your flowers and rocks, fine. Alex says everyone sells their gifts. But no forcing or scaring people.”
“Hmm.” Sebastian’s expression changed. “You’re saying I shouldn’t extort novices to keep their secrets quiet. I should be selling their secrets to the people who want to know them.”
“Wait, no—”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s genius, Vanda. Like you said, I’m entitled to sell my gift same as every demigod. Why use threats and force when there are plenty who’ll happily part with their coin to know what’s whispered in my ear?”
“That isn’t what I—”
“You’ve got yourself a deal.” He clapped my palm, shaking it firmly. “I won’t tell a soul, living or dead, your secrets, and you won’t tell a soul that I’m selling everyone else’s.”
“Excellent. We won’t have to kill him after all.” Selene never sounded more pleased. “Well done, child. Fate has chosen my devious, sly champion well.”
“I’m not devious!”
“No, you’re better. I’m fairly certain you just gave me the key to millions. I’ll drain this academy of drachmas in a month. Theopposite of blackmail,” he said to himself, walking off. “Must be another thing common in the mortal dominion. I bet you call it whitemail or something strange like that.”
“Will you stop talking over me and wait?” I ran out in front of him, forcing him to plant his feet. “That is not what I meant and you know it. People’s private business is their business. It’s not for you to sell. If you do, I’ll—”
“Tsk, tsk. Careful, Vanda,” he said, shaking his head. “We came to a civilized deal. If you finish that sentence the way I think you were, then it’s you doing the blackmail.”
“Aella?” Alex’s voice broke through the trees.
“But it’s not right,” I hissed—torn between running to Alex and stopping Sebastian. “You know it isn’t. Come on, Barba. I’m not threatening you. I’m asking you not to do this. No amount of money is worth it. I don’t care what your power is. Other people’s secrets aren’t yours to sell.”
The corner of his mouth curled up. “Well, that depends entirely on the secret, doesn’t it?”
“Aella? Aella, can you hear me?”
“Some women might believe it’s their business to know if they’re tumbling the most evil, dangerous, Janus-faced bastard that ever walked the earth.” Sebastian turned his head toward Alexander’s stomping and calling. “They’d want to know if they made the biggest mistake of their life falling for that toothy grin and sweet words and if there’s any chance of running far enough to escape that monster’s grip.”
“What are you talking about?” I rasped. “You don’t mean Alex. You can’t be talking about him.”
“Who else would I be talking about,” he growled. Oh yes, the smirky, sly guy was gone. “Alexander Damien is the worst, most vile person you’ll ever meet in this life or the next.”
“Aella?” Alex called. “Call if you can hear me.”
“But you wouldn’t want to know why from me,” Sebastian said softly, slipping into the trees. “Other people’s secrets aren’t mine to tell.”
“Aella, there you are.” Alex shoved between the bark, running to me. That grin knocked me back. It was so bright and happy. “Finally,” he whispered, taking me into his arms. “We’re alone.”
Chapter Eight
“Aella? Aella, hey.” Daciana nudged my shoulder. “Are you listening?”
I shook myself, forcing my gaze off the back of Alexander’s head. I couldn’t help it. It was my turn to stare, going by the game we’d been playing all morning.
