Page 57 of The Guardian's Curse

“Why do you want to return to a life where you scrape by with...” He glanced at Violette.

“Twenty-six thousand dollars a year,” she said archly. “Your skills are much more valuable than that.”

“It’s honest work,” Shoshanna said. And what the hell? Did they have her tax returns or something? It wouldn’t surprise her, but it felt like they’d found nudes from her phone and projected them for the entire club to ogle.

“We value you more than that,” Eduardo said.

“And I value my freedom,” she said.

“Freedom?” he scoffed. “I do not intend to chain you in a basement, Miss York. You’re free to live your life and collect a generous paycheck. No different than what you’re doing now, and you can stay in your own home if you like.”

“And answer when you call.”

“That goes without saying,” he said.

“And when you ask me to do something I can’t stomach?”

“Does this have to do with your father?” Hugo asked.

Her stomach plunged into the floor. “What do you know about him?”

“We know that he worked for the Casteron of upstate New York until his death,” Hugo said, staring evenly at her. “And that they paid a hefty sum to your family after his death.”

“To my mother and brother. I refused their money,” she said.

“That was foolish,” Violette said.

She wasn’t wrong. “That was my choice,” Shoshanna said. “If you’ll excuse me—”

“I do not excuse you,” Eduardo said sharply. He glanced at Violette, raising a hand to quiet her. “Given what you’ve accomplished in a short time at my club and Mr. Thorne’s home, I find your potential quite promising. Furthermore, unlike the so-called Barons of Casteron, I would not send a human witch to do my bloody work. There are many sharp blades within my reach that are far more effective and less prone to fits of conscience. While I do not share your delicate sense of morality, I do respect it. Would it affect your decision if I tell you that you can say no to my requests within reason?”

She hesitated. “And if I decide to end the contract, I walk away from you.”

He glanced at Hugo, who scowled. “With certain agreements.”

“Such as?”

“Most important, if you were to use your knowledge of my court and its workings against me, your life would be forfeit,” he said. Her stomach twisted in a knot; how was he so casual about an execution clause? “But yes. I agree. You may end your contract with me at any time. Do we have an arrangement?”

“I want to think about it,” she said.

Hugo started to speak, but Eduardo held up a hand to cut him off. “Agreed. When your work at the Thorne house is done, I’ll expect an answer.”

“That’s fair,” she said. She bowed her head slightly. “Thank you for being reasonable.”

“You can go,” Eduardo said, waving his hand. She quickly gathered up her skirt and practically ran down the stairs, where Paris was waiting for her with his arm out.

“You heard all that, I assume,” she said.

“Every bit,” he replied, guiding her through the crowd. “You should really consider it. Just think, if you became our witch, you could spend even more time with me.”

“Shouldn’t you be convincing me to accept, not run away?” she teased.

He laughed. “You’ll come to see that I am an utter delight.”

She frowned, lightly fingering the sharp collar of his crisp white shirt. “Is that blood?”

“Clumsy eater,” he said smoothly. He tilted his head toward the bar. “Come. Let’s get you something that came from grapes instead of a lovely housewife.”

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