“Money,” she said simply. “Enough to make sure that you and your family—” She paused to glance at me, and then returned her gaze to Mike. “Will be taken care of for the rest of your lives.”
Mike took a deep breath, and I wanted to tell him not to do it. Because whatever this “job” entailed, it must be extremely dangerous for Camelia to offer such a large reward.
“Don’t do it,” I gave into the urge to tell him, resting a hand on his arm. “You could get hurt. And besides—what could you buy with the money, anyway? Humans are barely allowed anything in the Vale.”
Camelia raised a brow. “I’m offering you the deal of a lifetime,” she said. “I can assure you, no human in the history of the Vale has ever received such an offer. Are you truly thinking about turning me down?”
“Not yet,” he said, crossing his arms. “But I’d like to negotiate.”
She leaned back, shocked. “Very well,” she finally said, a small smirk on her face. “What did you have in mind?”
“A lift on the ban of what I can purchase,” he said. “Because Annika’s right. If I’m going to have all this money, I should be able to spend it on luxuries I can enjoy.”
“You’ll have to purchase the items in secret,” Camelia said. “After all, if the other humans knew that you’re being given special privileges, it could cause a riot.”
“But I’ll be able to buy them?” He leaned forward, gazing at her hungrily. “As long as I keep it secret?”
“Yes.” Camelia nodded. “Of course.”
“Good.” He nodded and leaned back. “How long will I be away?”
“It shouldn’t be long.” She shrugged. “A week, at the most.”
“And how should I explain my absence?”
“The truth,” she said. “A top secret job at the palace. And that if you tell anyone the specifics, you—and whoever you tell—will be sent to the dungeons.”
I shivered, because even though the humans who were brought to the dungeons were never seen again, we all knew what happened to them. The royal vampires used them as a direct food source until they were drained dry.
Apparently, blood straight from the source was a luxury compared to the blood they took from us each month and refrigerated for the non-royal vampires to consume.
Mike nodded and turned to me. “You’ll act as manager at the Tavern until I return,” he said, his voice firm. “Inform them of what’s going on. Then, once I’m back, we’ll never want for anything again.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I begged him, tears filling my eyes at the thought of the danger he could be putting himself in. “We get along fine as we are. You don’t have to risk your life like this.”
“I’m not just doing it for myself,” he said. “I’m doing it for you, for the family I’ll have someday, and for everyone else at the Tavern. I’ll never get a chance like this again. I want to do this. No—I have to do this.”
“So you agree to our deal?” Camelia asked.
“I want to learn more about this task you want me to do,” he said. “I need to understand how dangerous it will be.”
“I will tell you.” She glanced at me again before returning her gaze to his. “In private. Now, come with me. You’ll be returned to the village once your job is complete.”
With that, she took him by the arm and whisked him out of the square, not even giving me a chance to say goodbye.
Camelia
I led the human boy to my golf cart and drove him out of the village. He didn’t say much, instead just staring out the side, his expression solemn. When we came to the road that led to the palace, I turned right, circling away from the imposing building and toward the mountain that loomed over the valley.
“I thought you said the job was in the palace?” he asked.
“I lied,” I said simply, staring straight ahead as I drove.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because your girlfriend had already seen enough, and I needed an explanation that she would believe.”
His eyes darkened. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
I smirked—apparently I’d hit a nerve. “Don’t look so glum,” I told him. “Once you complete the task I have for you and reap the rewards, I’m sure she’ll be throwing herself straight into your arms for a chance to enjoy endless luxuries by your side.”
He said nothing, just staring ahead and brooding.
“Don’t you want to know more about your task?” I prodded.
“Yes.” He didn’t look at me when he spoke.
“Good.” I smiled. “But first, I want to congratulate you on passing my test.”
“Test?” His brow furrowed, and finally he looked at me, confusion swirling in his light blue eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“The wolf.” I chuckled. “I let her into the village to see if any humans were strong—and brave—enough to fight her. You were the only one. Congratulations.”
Horror dawned on his face. “So you lied about the wolves getting through the boundaries?” he asked. “About them working with a witch? You let innocent people die for a silly test?”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.” I laughed again. “I didn’t lie about the wolves working with a witch and getting through the boundaries. It did happen once—remember that old lady found dead in her cabin recently?” He nodded, and I continued. “But of course, I strengthened the boundaries afterward. We’re safe for now.”
“Stop the cart,” he said suddenly. “No more deal. I’m going back.”
“No.” I pressed harder on the pedal, increasing our speed. “And don’t even try to jump out. I’ve placed a boundary around the cart—you won’t be able to leave.”
He did exactly as I’d suspected—he ignored me and tried to jump from the cart. Of course, he collided with the invisible shield. He banged his fists against it and grunted, and then turned his angry eyes on me.
“No more deal,” he repeated. “Let me out.”
“You haven’t even learned what I want you to do for me!” I laughed, since I had him now, and he was powerless. “Don’t you want all that I’ve promised you?”
“You’re a liar,” he said through gritted teeth. “I don’t make deals with liars.”
“I understand your frustration,” I said, since I would doubt myself if I were him as well. But I truly did intend on following through with the deal—if he survived the upcoming task. “I lied to you quite a bit—you’re right not to trust me.”
“So you’re going to let me go?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “I’d like to make a blood oath.”
His mouth dropped open. “Seriously?” he asked.
I couldn’t blame him for being surprised. Supernaturals rarely lowered ourselves to making blood oaths with humans. We controlled humans—we didn’t bind ourselves to promises with them. But this situation was unique. I needed a human—this human—more than he realized.
If it took a blood oath to convince him to trust me, then so be it.
“You’ll follow through with our agreement if a blood oath is made?” I asked, parking the cart at the bottom of the mountain.
“Tell me the task first,” he said.
“Fine.” I sighed. “The task is simple—or at least it’s simple for a strong human like you. Do you see the mountain before us? The one with the peak far above the cloud line?”
“Yeah,” he said, barely glancing up. “It would be hard to miss it.”
“You’re to climb up the mountain,” I told him. “I’ve brought all the necessary materials that you’ll need—hiking and climbing gear, food and water for the journey, and more. At the top of the mountain, there will be a cave—the Crystal Cavern. Inside the Crystal Cavern is a sapphire ring. I need you to take the ring and bring it to me.”
“That’s it?” he asked, looking doubtfully up at the mountain.
“That’s it,” I confirmed.
“Why are you asking me to do this?” he asked, turning to me. “Why not a vampire?”
“Supernatural creatures are forbidden to enter the Crystal Cavern,” I explained. “Only a human can enter—and not just any human. The human must be strong and brave. Which is why I need you.”
“Hm.” He gazed up at the mountain again, his eyes far off in thought. “What’s the catch?” he asked, turning back to me.
“No catch,” I said, but then I bit my lip, thinking it through further. “Actually, there is one catch.”