Page 38 of Protect Me

Killian snarls at that. “Why are you making this so difficult? One name and we’ll end it for you.”

“That’s why I’m saying no. If you go after him, you’ll bring his entire House down on you for it. I won’t let you get killed because of me.”

“She’s right, you know,” Bracken says on a sigh. “I don’t fucking like it, but she’s right.”

“Fuck being right,” Killian growls, but it sounds more like a pout than a threat.

Duncan studies me. “Why does he want you? What kind of weapon do you possess?”

I meet his gaze with a hard look of my own. “The kind I won’t allow to be used—by anyone.”

Killian shakes his head. “She doesn’t trust us. Even after everything.”

I don’t answer. I can’t. Not about this. Because the truth is that Idotrust them. It’smethat I can’t risk hurting them. My power corrupted the man Robert was. The last thing I’ll let it do is tear down these three men.

“The hunters looking for you today wore a ring from Earth and Emerald,” Duncan says. “Are you a member of that House too?”

“No. My family is gone. I have no House.” Emotion clogs my throat as I think of my parents, but I blink it away. Now’s not the time.

They all share a look.

“Well, love,” Killian says, “there’s some good news in all of this.”

“What’s that?” I ask warily.

“You’ve just bought yourself three full-time, round-the-clock babysitters.” He grins, gesturing at himself and the others.

“What do you...?” I look back and forth between them as his meaning dawns. “You can’t be serious.”

“Dead fucking serious,” he says cheerfully.

“The hunters that showed up today made it clear they suspect you’re here,” Bracken says. “They aren’t going to stop trying to get to you, as you said.”

“And your solution is to attach yourselves to me?” I demand, ignoring the images my words conjure. “How is that good news?”

Killian simply winks.

Bracken smirks.

Duncan opens his mouth to say something, but a knock at the door cuts him off. He answers it and then steps back to let the visitor enter. The Ringmaster steps into the room, and I force myself not to take a step back in surprise. The man has a presence like some kind of leviathan.

“There you are.” His sharp gaze zeroes in on me.

“Did you need me?” I ask, noting the way Bracken and Killian have each turned to flank me.

“I’m assuming Killian told you I caught your practice session earlier.”

“He did.”

He produces a scroll of paper that he tosses onto the counter. “Your signature goes at the bottom.”

I blink as he holds out a pen. When I don’t move, Duncan walks over and unrolls the paper, laying it flat. Someone else shoves me toward it, and I make my way over to stare down at the words Performance Contract printed across the top. The words beneath it jumble together, too complicated and heavily worded for me to understand.

“This part says you agree to perform five days a week, barring physical injury,” Duncan explains quietly, pointing to the first paragraph. “And this one says what you get in exchange. See?”

He points lower where I catch the words “room and board” along with a number for payment.

“I get paid?” I can’t help but ask in surprise.