“You’re not as righteous as you believe yourself to be,” Landon sneers. “All I see when I look at you is a self-centered prick who gets off on hishigh morality, if it even exists.”
Righteous? I never claimed to be. Justice obsessed? Sure. Morally correct? Absolutely.
But I never said righteous, or evenkind.
There is no point in disagreeing with him, though, not when I need him to cooperate. Instead, I stand, spinning him to sit in the spot I just occupied before heading to the kitchen.
My back is to him, so as I pour a can of Coke into a glass, he doesn’t see me pull the vial of B109 from the bag on the counter.
“Well, we can all have our own opinions,” I say, stirring the drink briefly. “Here.”
As I turn and extend the drink to him, he gives me a weary look.
“Why are you so obsessed with my gift anyway? Don’t you have your own to worry about?” He’s referring to what I showed him back in Oregon.
“You mean illusion? It does benefit me where it’s necessary.” As in, I never use it for selfish reasons. Not like he does.
Landon holds the glass in his hand, resting it against his thigh as he says, “It seems very useful. I genuinely felt like the world around me was changing.”
For some reason, the comment makes me want to puff out my chest and smirk. Itisuseful.
Instead, I shrug. “It’s very helpful.”
Landon nods once, his eyes dropping to stare at the floor. And for a moment, he seems so small and helpless that I kind of wish I could just ask him not to be a dick anymore and leave it at that. But the organization wouldn’t accept this conclusion. They’re very strict—as in, they won’t even help Young Master Atlas because they don’t involve themselves with demons.
Not that the organization could help much anyway.
Plus, I still don’t completely trust this guy, even if he’s turning out to be a little less evil than I once thought.
“You know,” Landon starts, his gaze lifting to mine. “I’m still unsure of what your grand plan is. You’re here to stop me from using coercion against others, but how? Do you plan to report me to the police? Would they even believe you?”
He’s a smart little thing; I’ll give him that. But he’s way off base if he thinks I’ll divulge that information to him. What Ineedis for him to drink that damn soda, but if I tell him to, he’ll suspect me.
“You don’t need the specifics,” I say, crossing my ankles as I lean against the kitchen counter.
“Oh, I don’t? Then I’ll just be going.” He stands, extending the drink out to me.
“No,” I tell him, ignoring the offering. “You’re staying right here.”
“Why? Is someone on their way to capture me?” he demands.
Someonewason their way, that he is right about. Only I’m already standing in front of him.
“I won’t be your little minion. I will not use my gift for you if that’s what you’re after,” he adds.
Huh? Why in the world would I want that when I’ve been chastising him this whole time about activating it?
“I don’t want that,” I assure him, doing my best to keep my eyes from landing on the glass in his hand.
“Then whatdoyou want?” Landon pushes. “Because I’m becoming more confused the longer I stand here.”
I guess it does seem odd to him. But how am I meant to answer that when it’ll ruin all of my plans?
When I say nothing, he sighs. “You’re impossible. This must be why you’re single.”
My head cocks in confusion at his words.
“Why do you assume I’m single?” I ask.
