Page 24 of The Black Dragon
“Father couldn’t have agreed to this! No lawyer in their right mind would draft such anagreement.”
“No Skin lawyer. But a clever dragon attorney, skilled in the art of negotiation, drew up this sales contract.” Justin met her shocked gaze squareon. She had to know whom she dealt with. “That particular paragraph is written in magick and invisible to Skins. Your father was in a hurry and didn’t read over the entirecontract.”
The paper fluttered to the floor. “I have to callhim.”
Walking out onto the deck to give her privacy, he braced his hands on the wood railing. Such a lovelyview.
Unable to enjoy it, or findthe peace he craved, Justin heard the door behind him open. He turned to see Ariel’s paleface.
“I can’t reach him. His cell is out of range.” Her shoulders sagged. “You win, Justin. I’m the sacrificiallamb.”
In two strides he was before her. Justin smoothed back a lock of hair teased by the wind. “You’re not a sacrifice, sweet. You do have achoice.”
“No.” She turned away.“Idon’t.’
Part of him desperately wished she’d flip dear old dad the finger and put Leo in dire straits. Ariel was so damn… noble. Self-sacrificing. And her father was a selfish, cruelman.
If I had a daughter, I’d put my welfare before hers. That’s what family is about. What family should be about. But how would I know? My relatives were only too eager to turn me into a whippingboy.
A spark of her old self glinted in her green eyes when she turned. “One condition, Justin. One, and if you fail to meet it, I won’t do this. Not for this house or all the gold you dragons hoard in yourcaves.”
“My gold is in thebank.”
“I don’t give a damn where you hideit!”
Justin clenched his fists. She had never sworn before. He feared he’d pushed her too far.But hewaited.
“My condition for sleeping with you is that you will not kill myfather.”
As conditions went, it wasn’t hard. Killing Leo and making Ariel an orphan wasn’t hisplan.
He wanted the Mage to suffer as he had suffered, and for that, Justin needed him alive until Leo’s spirit grew as stained as Justin’ssoul.
“I want your promise.Signed.”
Well, thatwouldn’t be a problem. After they returned inside, Justin looked around the kitchen, saw a notepad and tore off a sheet. He scribbled a quick promissory note that if he killed Leo Harrington, he would forfeit his ownlife.
As he signed it, Ariel shook her head. “Inblood.”
Whoa. His heart pounded. “Seriously? Won’t a formal contract tomorrow from my lawyersuffice?”
“Now.In blood.” Her smile chilledhim.
When had Ariel grown so cynical, so cold? He wondered what the hell happened over the past year to her. Or had he pushed her tothis?
Justin reached for one of the knives on the butcher block on the counter. Swallowing hard, he made a quick slice across his palm. Nausea roseup.
Leo had cut him several times, and since his torture, the sightof his life’s blood tended to sickenhim.
He signed quickly, licked his palm, tasting the warmth of copper, and watched the cut heal. Black dragons healed quickly with the aid of theirsaliva.
Ariel barely glanced at the paper he handed her. She folded it and tucked it into adrawer.
“What do you want me to do first? Strip off my clothing? Bathe? You’ll have to instruct me.I’ve never been awhore.”
Sarcasm dripped from her voice. Hesighed.
“First.” He pointed to the stove. “We eat. I’mstarved.”
