Page 178 of Just One Little Bargain

His expression sharpens with concentration. “I, Evie Feywin, acting freely and with full intention, offer—”

“EVIE!”

Chapter 51

Evie

Milo’s voice tears across the factory. I spin toward the entrance, and there he is, coming through the broken doorway at a run. His hair is wild, glasses crooked. He barely slows until he reaches me.

“Have you signed anything?” he asks, breathless. “Please tell me you haven’t signed anything.”

“No.”

His eyes close, shoulders dropping as he drags in a ragged breath, and behind us, Krell exhales roughly.

“Zavian.” He sounds less furious than inconvenienced. “You have impeccable timing in the most irritating possible way.”

Milo’s eyes open. “We’re leaving.”

“No.” I plant my feet, and his attention snaps back to me. He stops trying to guide me toward the door.

“Evie, please.”

“I came here for a reason.”

“I know exactly why you’re here.” His fingers close around my sleeve. “And you can’t do this.”

“Can’t, or you don’t want me to?”

“Both.”

Krell makes a thoughtful sound behind us. “For accuracy’s sake, she absolutely can.”

“Stay out of this.” Milo shoots him a glare.

Krell’s mouth curves. “That may be difficult considering I’m quite literally the other party.”

I turn back toward Krell. Milo’s hand slides down my arm and closes around mine as I step forward.

“Evie, please.”

I look at him. His chest is still rising too fast, curls damp at his temples despite the cold, and behind the glasses, his eyes are bright with fear.

“I want to do this.”

His grip loosens, but he doesn’t let go. “I’m not worth your soul.”

“That’s not your decision.”

“It should be when it’s my freedom you’re buying with it.”

“And it’s my soul.”

Neither of us says anything. Behind us, Krell politely allows us to have a relationship crisis in the middle of his transaction.

Eventually, he clears his throat. “As touching as this is, Evie, if you still intend to proceed, you have approximately three minutes left.”

Cold shoots through me, and I turn toward him. “Then start again.”