Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
“Let’s take the Bentley today,” Cecil mumbled around the cigarette he’d stuck in his mouth.
We rode down to the basement in the elevator, heading to the underground garage where Cecil kept the various cars he’d stolen and glamored.
“You’ll have to drive, though, Chosen. My feet don’t reach the pedals in this form. ”
“In that case, we’re taking the Audi.” I plucked the cigarette out of his mouth as he was trying to light it. “Stop that, you idiot; you’ll set your fur on fire.”
“Then I’ll just magic it away.” He sat on his haunches and tapped another cigarette out of the pack. “And I'll just change the Audi into a Bentley again,” he added a little snarkily.
I huffed out an exasperated breath. “How come you can change a beat-up Honda into a million-dollar sports car, but you can’t make yourself longer legs?”
He shrugged. “I could if I were just a unicorn. But I’m a spoil of war, too.
The magic binds can be restrictive. As a spoil, I live to serve others before myself.
I can change into any form I want in order to serve you, but I can’t make myself any bigger or smaller.
Believe me, Chosen”—he signed dramatically—“I would if I could. I’d transform myself into the most beautiful human you’ve ever seen so I could walk the prêt-à-porter shows in Paris. ”
“You need to adjust your priorities.”
“Look who's talking, Ms. Department Manager of a friggin’ call center.”
“Touché.” I glanced down at him. “What would happen if I wanted you to not be my servant anymore?”
His mouth dropped open, pink tongue lolling out. “As long as I’m alive, I’ll always be your servant.”
“What if I die?”
“Then I will die too.”
I frowned. “That seems… dramatic.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Have you met me?”
I chuckled. “Good point. But seriously, Cecil. I need to know the ins and outs of all this. I need to be prepared. What would happen if I broke the servant-master bond between us?” Since Donovan had started training me on bonds, I’d become curious.
Cecil tilted his head, thinking. “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s possible.”
“No? It must be. Aladdin set the genie free.”
He shrugged. “No. Aladdin is a fairytale, sweetheart. And I’m not a genie.”
“You’re like a genie, though.”
“I’m far better looking. But in all seriousness, I don’t think it’s possible. I entered into servitude willingly. And you accepted me.”
I quoted Donovan, “All bonds can be broken.”
“Yes, they can. But it doesn’t mean that they should. I don’t know what would happen, but I know for a fact that no spoil has ever been set free.”
“Because…” I prompted.
He gave a little doggy shrug. “Why would anyone want to give up their servant?”
“Right. So, you don’t know what would happen if we broke our bond?”
“Nope,” he said. “No idea. And I don’t think you should entertain it either, Chosen.”
I squinted at him. “Are you worried that you’ll die?”
“I worry about lots of things. Yes, I could die, but that’s only one option. I might lose my spoil magic, and I like my spoil magic. It gives me much more magical power to do the thing I love, and that’s to make things beautiful.”
“But you’re not free.” My tone held a touch of sadness. “Don’t you want to be free, Cecil?”
“None of us are free, Chosen. We’re all slaves to something. You’re a slave to your work ethic. The prince is a slave to duty. Cress is a slave to her hormones and her relentless pursuit of good pussy.”
“Cecil.”
“I’m just saying that I’d rather be bound as your slave, because the unknown is quite frightening. I might feel differently if you were a horrible tyrant, but you’re fairly pleasant to be around, so I’d like to stick with you.”
“Aww.” I grinned down at him. “Stop it. You’ll make me cry.”
“Okay, okay, enough of that. Don’t forget that I haven’t had the most comfortable life so far, so the bar is on the floor. My herd hated me. Then, I was stuck in a cage in the treasury for several centuries.”
I gasped. “Centuries? You were kept in the treasury for centuries?”
He shrugged. “I napped for a lot of the time. The genie in Aladdin was stuck in the lamp at the bottom of the Cave of Wonders for a thousand years.”
“Aladdin is a fairytale,” I parroted. “But seriously, Cecil, what are you really afraid of? You’re my friend, so of course I’d still want you around if you weren’t my servant.”
He wriggled awkwardly. “Don't get me wrong, Chosen. Freedom does hold a certain amount of appeal for me, but it’s not something I’ve ever let myself think about. I’m a spoil, so I’m your servant. I just feel lucky that it’s you that I get to serve.”
I’d set him free in a heartbeat if I knew how. I’d have to know he’d be safe, though. “You don’t have any idea what would happen to you if I broke our bond?”
“Who knows?” The elevator dinged and gave a little shake.
Violet had brought us to the basement. “If you set me free,” Cecil went on, trotting out of the doors, “I might die. I might keep all my powers and lose all the restrictions. I might become an overpowered monster. I might lose myself to darkness, trying to redecorate the whole of Poland so it looks more aesthetically pleasing, because damn, that place needs a makeover.”
“Ha, ha,” I said automatically. I walked towards the row of cars parked in a line, making a beeline to the least flashy one.
Something about what Cecil had just said hit a nerve, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I desperately needed some thinking time. Maybe I could ask Cecil nicely to shut his trap on the short drive to my office so I could let my thoughts marinate a little.
Ignoring him as he tried to butt me towards a gleaming black Bentley, I got into a dark gray Audi and buckled in. “Come on, Cecil.”
He pouted, but got in, climbing onto the passenger seat.
“Seatbelt, please. Safety first.”
He curled his lip. “This car doesn't have a dog harness.”
“What, did you suddenly lose your powers? You can’t style your harness into something with safety features?”
“I don’t need it. You drive like a grandma.”
I sighed. “No, I don’t. I drive like someone who is very conscious of motor vehicle safety.
If I have to suddenly stop or make any sharp turns, you’ll turn into an unguided furry missile.
But if you want to be a slave to the laws of physics, suit yourself.
” I started the car. “Violet, please open the garage.”
Unlike Cecil, she was eager to please and opened the door at the top of the ramp leading out of her parking garage.
I took a moment to settle myself into the Audi and familiarize myself with everything.
There was nothing worse than pulling into traffic and putting your wipers on instead of your blinkers.
I drove up the ramp, pausing at the top to check for pedestrians.
Then as I took a left, turning towards my office, a big man in black leather and armor strode into traffic right in front of me.