Callan shot him a look.“You’re not going to survive this, you know that.”
Gaius laughed.“What are you going to do about it?”
“I won’t be the one hunting you.”
The color had never fully returned to Gaius’s face after he spotted Ianto, and he paled further.“The Scourge doesn’t scare me.”
“Yes, he does,” I said calmly.
Gaius’s eyes narrowed on me, but I didn’t have to pretend anymore.I’d go with him to save Billy, but I wouldn’t hide who I was, and I wasdoneplaying political games.I wouldn’t bow to this bastard.
“AndIalso terrify you.”I lifted my hands higher so the chains rattled.“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be shackled right now.”
His hand clamped on Billy’s throat.“You’rethe one who should be afraid, milady.”
I lifted my eyebrows but refrained from saying anything more while he still held Billy.
“Come here,” Gaius commanded.
“Ellery, don’t do this,” Callan said.
“I don’t have a choice,” I told him.
“Yes, you do,” Ianto insisted.
Scarlet and Ruby didn’t speak.
“No, she doesn’t,” Gaius said.
He pushed the blade further into Billy’s neck.Tears streamed down the boy’s face as blood spilled down his neck, and Ruby let out an anguished cry.
I wouldn’t let anything happen to her child.She’d held me back from helping Scarlet, but her daughter was a woman who could make her own choices; Billy was a boy who was already far too wise for this world but hadn’t lived in it long enough.
“Come here,” Gaius ordered again.
I bristled over his command but threw back my shoulders and closed the distance between us.Gaius kept the blade against Billy’s neck as he used his free hand to open a portal.
I had no idea where the portal led, but if I went through it, I’d be at his mercy, and hewouldmake me pay.He’d said he would keep me from the duke, but that could change.
Once I went through his portal, I’d be at his mercy, but I wouldn’t let him or any of the aristocrats destroy me.
Gaius moved the blade from Billy’s neck to point it at the portal.“Go.”
I planted my feet and didn’t move.“Let Billy go first.”
“No, for now, the boy comes with us.”
“No, that’s not part of the deal.”There was no way I was going to let this asshole keep Billy.“I’m shackled and going with you willingly, but hestays.”
Gaius brought the blade back to Billy’s neck.A fresh trickle of blood ran down his throat.
“Move, or I’ll kill the boy.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Ryker
I metTucker’s gaze as the footsteps in the hall thudded closer.He stood near the portal, waiting as the others funneled into it with the weapons in hand.
