"Quite the opposite, I think you are the right girl for the job," he interjected.
I wanted to tell him where to stick it, but he knew from Alden, that if I didn’t take this job it would be my last one. I could run, live by myself but I'd probably be signing Adam and Larissa's death warrants too. That was something I wouldn’t do. And he knew it, which made him dangerous.
"I have a contract written up. You will sign it."
I glared at him without confirming, or denying I would be signing anything.
"You sign it, I will not yield to you Ryder," I snapped.
His lips tightened, "Oh but I think you will yield. You will do more than just yield to me," he snapped his fingers and the door to the room opened. "You will lie down and yield even it if includes you begging me to allow it."
"Syn," Adam's voice pushed me over the edge, my anger boiling over the rim. Startled, I looked at him sharply. How long had he been here and how much had he seen?
"You asshole," I snarled at Ryder uncaring who heard, or who pulled a knife, I was ready to attack.
"Syn, be careful. Alden is signing his own contract right now. It's why I was sent over here." Adam advised at my side.
"I bet he is," Alden could count his fucking days. They were numbered by forcing me into this damn corner. It seemed like he had been abusing his power since Marie had been killed. It was widely rumored that he’d been taking jobs from the highest bidder and that was against the laws of the Guild. It had been created to protect the human race, not line our pockets.
"Fine," I snarled holding my hand out for the contract.
He smiled coldly, as if he'd won. I rolled my eyes as he grabbed my hand instead of handing me the contract. His fingers curled around my own reminding me of what had happened on that abandoned stretch of highway. I tried to pull it away, but he was stronger and his pull brought my body flush against his.
"Let me go—now!" I cried the memories of my mother came to the fore with a vengeance.
He released his hold, as if the memories had also flooded his own mind. His eyes narrowed as he took in my ashen color. Maybe if I was crazy enough I could get out of this before signing his stupid contract.
His lips turned up wickedly in the corners. I narrowed my own eyes, wondering if he was reading my mind. I knew some Fae had the ability to do so, I was unsure what powers he had and until I could figure it out I'd be damn careful what I allowed to enter my mind. I discarded the thought and walked to the desk.
The vellum which the contract had been written on was grey and it sent chills up my spine just looking at it. Legend had it, that the Fae made contracts on the skin of those who committed treason against their race. They skinned them alive and kept them in a suspended state until they grew more…only to take the next skin the traitor grew. Put a whole new spin on recycling.
I wasn’t going to touch it, didn't matter what it said and if I didn’t sign it. I would be signing death warrants—for those of my friends. I looked around for a pen, but the only thing on the small wooden desk beside the parchment was a bone handled knife.
A sinking feeling took residence inside my stomach. I turned and glared at Ryder. His smile was still all teeth.
"Read it," he growled huskily.
I raised a single brow. "Does it really matter if I read it? I either sign this or I go to war with the Guild and that's not something I want to do," I had friends inside the Guild, more than just those of my coven.
He picked up the knife and as I watched him, he sliced the palm of his hand wide open. Thick blood turned crimson as it hit the air. My eyes were riveted to his hand, my own balled into a fist and I stepped back. His voice was rich and husky as he asked for mine.
"Uh—"
"Give me your hand," he interrupted my moment of panic.
It took all of my willpower to raise my hand for him while he held that knife in his other hand. My inner-self was screaming. Something more was going on here than just signing his damn contract and my mind knew it. I winced as he cut shallowly into my hand. A hiss left my lips as an audible caress. I had scanned over the contract, but it wasn’t as if it was a choice. Larissa and Adam's lives were on the line if I didn’t.
"I ask of you to honor this contract by blood, do you agree to honor it Synthia Raine McKenna?" His voice was low, hypnotic like a caress inside my mind.
My eyes flickered up to Adams and back to Ryder's. "Yes," I said quietly. The moment I said it, he placed my hand in his, palms together and violent waves of pain and pleasure mixed together shocked my senses until I was holding onto him to stay upright, I cried out feeling something tear through me. He must have been feeling the same thing. His eyes turned hard, as a tick started in his jaw.