Page 148 of Deadfall

As though Albatron could taste my reservations on the breaths between us, he traced his finger in the air down my scar—not touching, but close enough that I could feel the tingle of energy from his skin.

“I remember that night,” Albatron said thoughtfully. “I saw the aftermath of Vetticus’ destruction. He is a brutal man who deserves everything your father delivers.”

I huffed quietly. “And you’re not?”

Albatron’s eyes sharpened. “You know it’s not that black and white.” He tilted his head and really took a moment to study me. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked me yet.”

I took a breath, somehow I immediately knew what he was talking about. The flames threw some of him into shadow as he stood patiently waiting for me to speak. Of all the questions, over all the years I’d had him on my kill list, there was really only one question I wanted an answer to.

“Why did you shoot me? You didn’t even know who I was, right?”

“If I’d known what a beautiful and terrifying creature you’d turn into, or who North would become, I wouldn’t have shot you.”

I frowned. “You wanted me to ask, so tell me the truth.”

He sighed. “Back then North was simply a man, and you were simply a young girl in the hands of some very dangerous men.” Albatron’s jaw tensed. “I did it because I knew the suffering ahead of you.”

The entire world dropped away. Albatron’s eyes bore into mine, so close I could see the individual colors, as they formed a rare window into what I could only think to call, humanity. This monster in front of me just granted a glimpse of the unseen. An admission of compassion, empathy—words I would have never used to describe this man in a million years.

“You were just a child,” he said. “Caught in a web of darkness you couldn’t possibly understand.”

My throat closed as I thought about everything I had survived. A cold chill swept through my body. The idea that Albatron had done it out of empathy was wild and nearly unbelievable.

“I don’t know if I believe you,” I said. “What if I don’t go along with this?”

“Even if I believed that,” Albatron said condescendingly as he turned away. “This was a courtesy. You have no choice in the matter.”

I shrugged. “Seems like maybe I have a lot of choices actually. It seems like you need me to walk into my father’s house and be the whisper in his ear telling him to stand down.” I stood my ground as he fully turned to face me again. His face became expressionless, and there was a predatory energy about his stillness.

“I don’t care if you did it out of the kindness of your heart—you ruined my life,” I ground out. “You have taken everything from me—my father, my family—” My voice broke as my anger escalated. “And, now you want me to pave the way for your success? Fuck you,” I snarled.

Albatron’s eyes glittered in the light. “There is a lot you don’t understand—”

“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child,” I spat.

“Then do not dig your heels into the sand like one,” Albatron fired back. “I’ll admit—there is a lot regarding your family that I was complicit in. And by that, I mean things I watched happen and didn’t do anything to stop. For that, you have every right to desire vengance.” He stepped closer, his eyes blazed with a fire that rivaled mine. “Believe me, Emersyn—the sins of my family keep me up at night, but I have spent decades attempting to regain control so I can change that.”

“I don’t care—”

“I did not order the murder of your family!” Albatron exclaimed, his voice raised.

“I don’t believe you!”

We stood and stared at each other. His knuckles were white around his glass, but his grip was steady. He threw back the rest of his drink and set it down. He looked over at a stand of bookshelves along one wall and nodded as though he’d just made up his mind.

“I want to show you something,” he said. “I’m not sure if you’ll—” He cut himself off and moved abruptly toward the shelves. There was an ornate golden box on the middle shelf. Albatron did something to the lock mechanism, and there was a muffled click as it disengaged. His back blocked my view, as he opened the lid and picked up whatever lay inside. When he turned, I gasped and took a step back.

“No,” I shook my head. “No, no, no—that’s not—that’s not possible.”

The past rushed forward.

“This is my little doll,” Octavius said. “Vetticus has been so kind as to lend her to me. But, I have plans for her to be mine and I thought tonight, she could be included in the ritual to make it official.”

“No.”

All eyes turned to a man who had spoken earlier. He stood slightly apart from the others.

His mask was a black wolf.