Well,screwthat.
“No,” I growl, and I keep my damn hand right where it is at my side. I don’t care how strong this fae warrior is. All I’m going to give Lord-of-the-Rings is a big old helping ofkiss my ass!
The elf’s eyebrows raise with genuine surprise. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”
And whether it’s because of my direct refusal or because the elf is somehow actively tugging on his end of the Obligation, the compulsion surges down my arm like gasoline on fire. It hurts, and more than that, underneaththe pain is layered this thick, urgent desire to give the elf what he wants, to honor the pact,as I should.It’s a desire that if I didn’t know better, I’d think was my own.
But I do know better. Growing up, my mother didn’t hesitate to use her succubus powers to manipulate me. And before you reach for a barf bag or something, no, it was never sexual. She was a nightmare, but she was still my mom. Even so, well-fed succubi and incubi who know what they’re doing can generate allkindsof powerful emotions in others that feel real. That feel like it’s all you.
How many times did she make me blissfully happy about cleaning up after her, cooking for her, telling her again and again how wonderful she was? How much despair, how much pureshamedid she make me feel when I did the slightest thing to displease her, no matter how petty or ridiculous? It never mattered how sure I’d been that she had been wrong, and that I was right to be angry with her. She would justlookat me, and it was like the world got turned upside-down, and suddenly I felt the opposite of whatever it was I’d felt before. It took me a ridiculous number of years to figure out that she was actually using herpowerson me. That Iwasn’tcrazy. Or a bad child. Or only put here on this planet to earn her approval.
But eventually I did. I learned to sense when she was manipulating my emotions. To block it. To push back so hard with anger and hatred that she would stagger back as if burnt. I was never strong enough to actually yell at her, to tell her to go to hell, but it was enough to get her to stop, to get free.
And I do the same thing with the elf’s compulsion,not giving it an inch, creating an emotional chasm of pure fury betweenitandme.
“Alvin, what are you doing?” I hear Collin ask, deep concern in his voice. But I’m not looking over at him. I’m looking at the elf with fuck-you eyes. And he just stares back at me with shock. Because he knows that I should have succumbed to his power by now. And I’m not doing that.
“Irefuseto give you the watch!” I snarl those words out with resolve, which makes the compulsion flare up hot inside me again. It sure doesn’t feel good, but it has even less effect than before, because I’ve got its number and I’m not answering its calls no more.
The elf swoops in on me, a hawk on a mouse, and grips my shoulders, his face twisted with fury. “Howare you refusing the call of the pact? That shouldn’t be possible!”
Now it’s my turn to sneer. “Really? Maybe you’re not as flawless as you think you are, huh?”
“Alvin!” Collin cries out, rushing over. “This isn’t a game. If you don’t do what he wants, he’ll reallyhurtyou!”
I turn my head and glare at Collin, holding tight onto my anger against the compulsion like a shield. “I’m not just handing you over, like you’re something! I won’t!”
Collin’s eyes widen, like I’ve just told him I’m going to commit suicide. Which maybe I did. I quickly glance around, looking for any weapon I could use against this fae warrior. But unless he’s especially vulnerable to a pillow fight, I’m straight out of luck.
“Who are you talking to?!” the elf roars. Then he steps back away from me, quickly releasing his grip, like I mightbe on fire. He regards me with amazement and horror. “Are you… are you speaking to the Avatar? But that’s impossible! You’re too weak!”
“You keep saying that,” I spit back at him. “But looks like there are more things in heaven and earth, doesn’t it, douchebag?”
(I’m actually legit proud that not only am I able to whip out a real comeback, but that, since he’s an elf, it’s also a Shakespeare reference!) (Because you know, elves were huge in Shakespeare?) (Whatever. Trust me. It’s totally badass.)
But Collin looks like he might be about to have a heart attack on my behalf. And it’s only made worse when the elf draws his sword again. The fae’s words drip with hate.
“Give the watch to me.Now.” His voice is a hiss.
And that’s when it hits me. A gut feeling that blooms into a full-on hunch. The elf has tried to bribe me. Threaten me. Grab at me. But that’s all he’s done. And if thisisa God-tier artifact…
“You want it so bad? Then you’re going to have totakeit. It’s in my back pocket.”
I wouldn’t have thought the elf’s glare could become more murderous, but I would have been wrong. Silence stretches between us as he seethes. But he doesn’t move. And even though I’m still totally screwed right now, I can’t help feeling a little triumph.
I glance over at Collin. “He can’t do it, can he? I need to hand the watch over voluntarily, don’t I?”
The blond boy next to me looks horrified. “Jaysus, Alvin! Yes. You’re right. He can’t. And if he kills you, he’llneverbe able to use it.” Now he grips my bicep with both of his hands, pleading with me. “But he can stillhurtyou, as much as he wants, until you agree to hand over the watch. And, trust me, there are worse things than death!”
As if on cue, the elf follows my eyes to Collin and says, “I don’t know what the Avatar has promised you, but I am well familiar with the limits of all creatures. I will cut you, and skin you, and take you apart piece by piece, fordecadesif I must. But you will get no release until you give me what’s mine!”
I’m currently holding onto a lot of anger to keep the Obligation at bay. But I gotta hand it to him, the elf warrior sure knows how to sound truly terrifying when he wants to. Mostly because I have no doubt hewillback up his threat.
My legs tremble involuntarily. But I’m not going to give in. I’m not!
I lock my knees in place and straighten my back.
“Do your worst,” I say, trying to sound tough. A lot tougher than I am. But I refuse to be “weak-sauce” anymore! Maybe it was the sex. Maybe it’s because this cute boy really needs me right now. Or maybe I’m just tired of being pushed around, after experiencing it again and again for a whole freaking day. But for once in my life, I am going to stand up to a bully, even if it’s the last thing I do.Thisis who I want to be. So this is who Iwillbe, for as long as I can.
