“Baga,” Sitri groans. He stalks over to tower over her, straightening his shoulders. Suddenly, he looks much too large for this cluttered space. “Don’t make me remind you that you owe me.”
She whips around, her face aghast. Sitri’s intimidation tactics don’t seem to be doing much to sway her outside of irritating her. “I have paid you back a thousand times over.”
“It was a big favor. I say you owe me a thousand and one times over,” he says with another coy smile that has me rolling my eyes.
“Ah, but you will come to my door and say ‘Baga, please I need more, yes?’” She scolds, shaking her head and wagging a finger.
Sitri stiffens with a furtive glance in my direction.
“Tch.”
“You already have my protection.”
“And, what you will revoke that if I do not agree?”
He groans. “Don’t make me threaten that, come on. I need you.”
She turns her head to the side, pointing her nose stubbornly. “Sitri! You do not even know what it is, you ask. She is like obsidian and flinting powder. Should not be mixed.”
“That’s exactly why I need you,” he says with a pointed look. Baga closes her eyes with a breath. “Would you like me to beg? Because I’ll do it.”
Her eyes flash open with a hint of amusement and a sheen of gloating. “Fine, beg, Nightshade prince of the shade.”
He grins but grasps his hands together in a pleading motion. “Please, Baga? You’re the only one I can trust and the only one wise enough to figure her out. Just work with her. If anyone can do it, it’s you.”
My eyes flicker back and forth between them.He’s working her.Charming her.Pulling out all of his stops like the manipulative bastard he is. And based on her expression of both annoyance and defeat,it’s working.I huff a breath out my nose in annoyance.
“Come on,” Sitri says, shoulders slumping. “Come onnn’”
But Baga shakes her head. “I cannot help he—“ Suddenly it’s not just her head shaking. It’s the floors, the walls. The entire house quavers with a groan, rattling vials on the shelves. The birds squawk in their cages. I dart back with a yelp, clinging to the wall for support. Half expecting the place to come down around me at any moment, I stare up at the quavering ceiling.
Baga calls out a noise of complaint. She picks up her large wooden spoon and beats at the wall. “Stop that! Settle down!”
The house shakes even more vigorously, and I begin propelling myself toward the door to escape. This is really too much for one day between this and the tree.
“Fine! She can come here!” she shouts but she’s not looking at Sitri as she says it, instead staring up at the ceiling.
The shaking ceases immediately.
“You always get your way!” she huffs. Sitri’s already leaning over to pull her into an embrace. “BUT—“ She holds up her index finger. “You owe me favor.”
“Done.”
“And she owes me favor,” Baga says, pointing in my direction. I suspect, based on the wicked gleam in her eye that this was her plan the entire time. “And she helps.”
Sitri turns back to me, and I widen my eyes at him in a silent warning. “She agrees,” Sitri says.
My eyes bulge. As soon as Baga turns to meddle in the cauldron, I shake my head vigorously, mouthingNo. Are you fucking insane?
He ignores me as he turns back to Baga. “Make sure she is not seen.”
He starts toward the door with a parting glance. “Be good. Do as she asks. I’ll be back for you when I’m through for the day.”
No fucking way. You’re not leaving me here,I mouth silently, my gestures growing more rapid and panicked.
He clasps his hands on my shoulders with a sigh. “You’ll be fine.” He ignores my still frantic gesturing and slips toward the door in a hurry. I fly out after him.
I’m so worked up for several seconds I can only sputter. “You—I’m—No, No, Sitri! I’m not staying here!”
