Page 100 of Dragon Her Heels

TWENTY-FOUR

“Make me pay, Crystal.”

I spent six million of the Devil’s dollars on my buckskin horse, and I put some serious thought into hurrying to the nearest bathroom and vomiting. Only Lucifer’s insistence I really could bid whatever I wanted, issued at the three million mark, had kept me holding on.

I shook the entire time waiting for HIP 2843 to make her appearance, wondering how the hell I would earn the money to pay him back for the animals.

Lucifer reached over Yuless, patted my leg, and said, “Your baby was worth every penny, so don’t worry about it. You can bid on the last horse of the day. Does Darlene need to sit with you and help you hold your hand up?”

As I couldn’t think of anything more humiliating than wimping out and needing the Queen of Hell to hold my hand to bid on a horse, I shook my head. “She has an x, Lucifer.”

“I know. You can bid on her anyway. Let me remind you that I owe you and Aramathea a trip to my gem river, where you can spend all day hunting for valuable sparklies. You earned that by beating me with a bridle worth more than the combined value of all the horses we’ve purchased today.”

Ack. The bridle was worth how much? “Did I damage it? Please tell me I didn’t damage it.”

“The bridle is fine. If you don’t bid, I will bid for you, and this will result in us fighting over her, and then I will pay even more for her.”

How ruthless. After shooting a glare at the Devil, I waited for the handlers to bring the mare out.

Over the course of the day, I’d seen numerous horses pitch fits, but the chestnut snapped her teeth, stomped, and blew air. The instant the auctioneer opened bidding, I raised my hand.

The bids went downhill from there, requiring me to constantly draw attention to myself, the same horrible situation that had resulted in me blowing six million on my buckskin princess.

As the bidding approached the million dollar mark, Lucifer said, “I will bid if you stop.”

Evil, evil, evil. “I will make you pay.”

“Yes, that is the idea. You’re catching on. Make me pay, Crystal. Keep raising your hand.”

I scowled, shot another glare his way, and did as told.

At the six million mark, with the mare going as far as rearing and striking, I questioned what I was getting into, if anyone could handle the animal, and how long my lifespan would be should I attempt to tame the beast.

Then again, I’d cultivated a spirit of cooperation with Alligator Bait. As long as I did what Alligator Bait wanted, she loved me the best. If the fillies teamed up, there would be zero hope for me.

At the seven million mark, I whimpered, but I kept raising my hand despite wanting to cry without bothering to locate a corner first. And if I vomited, would anyone truly blame me?

At eight and a half million, I questioned why I raised my hand, but the auctioneer accepted my bid, and outside of his attempts to cajole someone in the crowd to spend more money, outside of the filly’s fuss, it remained silent.

“You have turned positively green, by the way,” Yuless informed me.

“Should I swoon over this mess, just leave me on the floor. I deserve the humiliation at this stage. Are you happy with my greed and selfishness yet?” I sighed, grateful the torture was over. “Are you sure your wallet can handle what I just did to it?”

“Considering how you’re already trying to figure out how to pay me back, no. It’s only selfish and greedy if you take the horses and run.”

Darlene leaned forward and grinned at me. “Take the horses and run, Crystal. It’s an option, and he’ll even let you off the hook for other selfish acts for a while.”

“Ten years,” I countered. “I can be as giving and selfless as I want, without him complaining about it, for a period of ten years.”

Maybe after that long, I wouldn’t feel quite as dirty.

“Six,” Lucifer countered. “I do quite like the number six.”

“Six years, six months, and six days,” I bargained.

“I accept these terms. You may be as disgustingly charitable and kind and all those foul and gross traits you seem to enjoy for a period of six years, six months, and six days beginning now. You can spend the time preparing to commit your next act of selfishness.”

“It’s going to take me that long to even remotely become comfortable with the idea,” I muttered.