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“You want it that badly?”
“Yes.”
“No!” Kate argues, striding over to me. She stands before me and shakes her head. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m seeking vengeance. It’s mine. Not yours. Not Beast’s. Not Arden’s butmine. You have no idea what I’ve been through with these men. Don’t interfere.” My heart pounds in my chest, willing them to believe me.
“Well, shit. Our little Christy has grown some major balls. Good for you, girl,” Beast says, earning him another glare from Kate who twists on her feet and points at Arden.
“She’s your blood, Arden, and as far as I’m aware there’s very few of you left. Let her have this. Besides, you got what you came here for tonight, haven’t you?”
Arden squints his eyes at me, considering for a moment. “Who is she to you?”
“Have you taken something? They’re fucking sisters,” Beast pipes up, pulling a face.
“I’m not talking about Grim,” Arden replies, his gaze still focused on me.
“Thirteen’s myfriend. I care about her.”
He nods. “Then these are my terms. I will let you have the pleasure of killing these fuckers but when it comes to the day she asks you for help, I want you to deny her.”
“What the hell is this?” Kate asks. “WhoisThirteen exactly? And why would she need Christy’s help? What do you intend to do with her?”
“That’s our business. Not yours,” Carrick responds this time. “I suggest you keep your nose out of it.”
Kate bares her teeth, but she doesn’t argue.
“Those are my terms, cousin,” Arden offers.
My throat constricts, my stomach tightening in knots. How can I do that? How can I possibly turn my back on Thirteen if she asked me for help? My mother had said in her letter to me that Fate would catch up with her and that I should be a friend when that happens. So what kind of person would I be to deny her help when she needed it the most. I can’t do that. I won’t.
“No.”
“Fine,” Arden says, flicking his gaze from me to Beast. “Do it.”
“Wait!” I hold my hand up, my heart hammering against my rib cage. “There’s an object in this castle I believe you’d be interested in obtaining. I will tell you where it is so long as you allow me to kill these men.”
“What object?”
“There’s a knife. It’s handle is made of human skin.”
“And why the fuck would I want that?” Arden asks.
I point to the butterfly tattooed onto his neck. “Your father had a tattoo just like that one, didn’t he?”
“Fuuuuckkk!” Beast exclaims.
Arden’s skin pales and Carrick grips his arm, steadying him.
“We’ve both lost people we love. The man who killed your father is dead. My sister saw to that. You’ve had your revenge, albeit through her, but I still need mine. Let me have this and I will tell you where to find the knife.”
“I couldmakeyou tell me,” he counters.
I shake my head. “You could try, but you won’t. Besides, Grim and Ford have a gun. You don’t. So let’s stop fucking around and make a deal. I’ll tell you where to find the knife, and you give me the retribution I deserve.” Arden grits his jaw, then nods, a note of respect flickering across his face. “Oh, and for the record, not only will I come running when Thirteen asks me to, you won’t stand in my way unless you want me to inform her family just exactly how you’ve treated her over the years.”
“She talked about us?” he asks, a flicker of emotion tracking across his face before he shuts it down.
I shake my head. “Thirteen isn’t the onlycailleachhere,but you know that already, don’t you?”
