Scuffles broke out, more voices rushed in, and Matty yelped once as Badb screeched into the phone.
“We’ve got to get out of here.” Carter had taken possession of the phone. “He’s smashing his face into the stone and begging for it to stop. I don’t know whatitis, but he’s digging his fingers into his scalp like he’s going to rip his head open to getitout.”
Memories.
They were tearing him apart, destroying his mind. There would be nothing left of Kierce—or Berchem—if Dis Pater didn’t reinstate the god glass to hold the worst at bay. Dis Pater had ruined him. Kierce was a torrent of mania without his master holding back the tide.
“Restrain him,” I croaked, my heart guttering like a candle on the verge of extinguishing.
“Containment is the best I can promise.”
The call ended, and before I could slide the phone back in my pocket, Dis Pater was there.
“That is the cost of freedom,” he said merrily. “Still sure you want that for him?”
“You fucking bastard.” I curled my hands into fists. “You did this.”
“He’s ancient, mouthy girl. I spared him by erasing his memories every century or so except for the most pertinent details. Now he’s remembering everything. Things he’s done. People he’s killed. Lives he’s ruined.” He leaned down until his hot breath hit my ear. “He’s remembering who he is, how he got here, and who you are. Well, parts of who youwere. Can you imagine his horror? Learning he’s fallen in love with an experiment whose main components were stolen from his mate? His one true love?”
My phone rang again, jarring me from his spite.
Sweat coated my palm when I answered, and I held my breath when I asked, “How is he?”
“Carter and Harrow have him pinned down,” Josie said, taking her turn with updates. “I bound his wrists and ankles with vines, but he’s too strong to hold for long. If we let him go, he’s going to keep going until he knocks himself out. His head is…” She swallowed hard. “He nearly cracked his skull like an egg.”
This wasn’t my choice. I had no right to make it for him. He ought to decide for himself, but he would kill himself if I didn’t stop him. Worse, he might end up like Ithas in the myth where he died every night only to be healed by morning in time for his torment to start all over again.
There was no right answer. There was only a humane one. And he might never forgive me for it.
Eyes sliding shut, I hated myself for taking the easy way out. “Put the god glass back.”
“Oh.” Dis Pater acted surprised. “You don’t want me to free him?”
“I don’t want him to suffer.”
“Yes or no, mouthy girl.”
“No.” I ground my teeth, anger carving tracks through my heart into my soul. Because part of me, and it wasn’t a small part, was glad Kierce would remain Kierce. “Shove those monsters back under his bed.”
“Done.” He tapped the phone still clutched in my hand. “Verify it if you want.”
Pulse thundering in my ears, I dialed Matty’s number and waited for someone to answer. “Update.”
“He’s gone quiet.” Josie still had the phone. “I think he might be unconscious. From the head wounds.”
“Call if he wakes up again or if he gets worse.”
I ended the call before she could say anything to sway me.
“Lift the kill order,” I countered Dis Pater. “He can’t protect my family if he’s trying to murder me every five minutes.”
Smug reassurance wreathed his face, the look of a man who had won. “And should I need his services?”
“Summon him.” I choked on the words. “But Kierce stays with us.”
Assuming he could stand to look at me when this was said and done.
“I will free Kierce of any orders that could result in harm to you or yours, but I will hold on to his reins.”
