Chapter 6 – A Deal Struck

“My handmaid!?” I burst out laughing, grinning towards the back of Anton’s head.

“Listen, don’t get me started,” he murmurs. “Apparently it’s a loophole – royalty are, historically, allowed to bring the dead spirits of their handmaidens to help serve them in their afterlife. She said to tell you that she heard your prayer and this was the best that she could do.”

A little smile comes to my lips as I listen, because I was feeling very, very alone just a little bit ago. But knowing that my grandmother has an eye on me and is sending me aid? Honestly, it helps more than I thought it could.

“So, what’s your like…job?” I ask, glancing over at his glowing blue form.

He laughs, I think a little rueful. “Your idea is as good as mine, kid. I’m just supposed to help. What do you need help with?”

I purse my lips, considering, flicking my eyes over to him. “How do I know I can trust you?” I ask, suspicious. Honestly, after last night, my willingness to trust strangers I meet in the underworld is very, very low.

Anton just laughs and stars to turn, making me squeak in horror and dip my head lower into the bath so that just my eyes peer over the edge.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, Juniper, I can’t see anything –“

“Seriously!? I ask you how I can trust you and you immediately betray my trust by trying to sneak a peak!?”

“Sneak a…a peak?” he asks, crossings his arms and fighting his grin. “You seriously think that’s my priority right now?”

I just narrow my eyes and glance around, noting that the sides of the pool-like tub are indeed quite high. I give up my offended stance and lift my chin higher, letting him see the frown on my mouth. “How do I know I can trust you, ghost boy?”

He just smirks at me. “You can’t know for sure. You should just do it.”

“What!?”

“Just do it,” he says, laughing a little. “Trust me. I’m trustworthy.”

“Which is exactly what an underworld minion would say,” I murmur, suspicious.

“Nah, I’m cool,” Anton sighs, brushing my suspicion off like it can’t possibly matter. “But come on – fill me in. What is this thing I’m sent to help you with? Surely you’re not just hanging out in the underworld for the luxurious bathing facilities.”

I smirk a little, my wolf turning happily in my soul and giving me a little nudge, urging me to trust him. So I sigh and give into it, trusting her and considering that what I’ve got to say is basically public knowledge at this point.

“I’m kind of in a competition.”

He raises an eyebrow at me.“What happens if you lose?”

I wrinkle my nose in distaste. “I think I…die.”

His mouth drops open.

“I mean, it’s unclear!” I shout out, glaring at him over the edge of the tub.

Anton groans, turning away and covering his face with his palms. “Juniper!”

“What!?”

“How the hell did you get involved in this!?”

“I kind of…agreed to it! By accident! I mean, they completely tricked me, but there’s a really good prize at the end!”

Anton turns back to me, his face quite stern and serious, and listens carefully while I fill him in on the rules of the competition and the details of the powerful wish given to the victor at the end – powerful enough to bring a soul back from the dead. His expression turns completely at this, distracted, his mind at work. Quietly, while he considers the details of this stupid deal I got trapped into, I finish washing myself, feeling much fresher as the minutes tick past.

“Listen here, Sinclair,” Anton says, and I jump a little when I turn and see him kneeling by the side of the tub, close enough to meet me eye-to-eye but not high enough to peer over the edge and spy on me.

Still, my eyes go wide and my breath stops, because this is the closest I’ve ever been to a guy without any of my clothes on. Blythe and I never got that far.

And, I mean, Anton’s a ghost but…he’s still a boy.

He smirks, his eyes traveling over my face, sensing my anxiety.

“What?” I snap, splashing him with the bathwater, making him laugh as the water droplets move right through him.

“What’s your plan for that wish?” he asks, turning his head to the side.

I go quite still, because even if my wolf has decided to trust Anton, I’m still wary yet. “I’m not sure I’m ready to divulge that information, ghost boy.”

He shrugs. “Fine. But do you think you can work me into it?”

I move a little closer to him despite myself, folding my fingers over the edge of the tub and looking curiously into his face. “What do you mean?”

“Whatever the wish is,” he says, holding my gaze steadily. “When you win it, do you think you could find a way to wish me back to life alongside whatever else it is you’re wishing for?”

I turn my head as I stare back at him, considering it. “I honestly don’t know, Anton.”

“Well, if I offered to go along with your grandmother’s plan and help you out with this weird wedding competition, would you be willing to try? If it were possible?”

The corners of my lips turn up. “Don’t you kind of have to help me anyway, handmaid?”

A silent little laugh shakes his shoulders, making my smile deepen. “I don’t have to do anything,” he says, sounding quite profligate indeed. “I can just lay around in the underworld, lounging uselessly. Heckling you from the sidelines.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I hiss.

He just grins. “Try me, Princess.”

“Fine,” I say, grinning back at him, meaning it. “I swear it, on my family name. If I can use the wish to bring you back alongside my other intentions, I’ll do it. Gladly.”

“Then we’ve got a deal,” he says, holding out his hand. I reach for it instantly, intending to give him a nice hearty shake.

But, of course, my hand moves right through his.

“Good enough,” Anton says, seating himself more comfortably on the floor and lounging back, leaning his weight on his palms. “So, tell me – who’s this guy you’re trying to marry?”

“I know he’s the Prince of the Underworld,” I say, “We find out more tonight, though – I have to go to the Palace for the Selection Ceremony.“