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“He’s all right. We worked things out and had a discussion.”
“A discussion, huh?”
I glare at North, but there’s no real anger in it, and I know he can tell. I don’t really mind being teased by one of my mates about the other.
And I’m thinking of them as ‘my mates’ in my head now. Huh. This really is getting serious for me. I wish I could say that I was still worried, if only because my change of heart surprised me so much.
But for the first time in my life I think I’ve changed my mind on something and it’s not concerning. It doesn’t worry me. It feels right. Less like I’m turning around and more like I’m finally giving into something that I was fighting wrongly the entire time.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” North points out. “I’m glad you worked that out. It was something Cain needed to discuss with you. But we do need to get moving on our plan.”
“Your plan,” Donovan sneers. “And what exactly is that plan, hmm? Not a good look for you to discuss it right in front of me.”
“Oh, but why not?” I reply, rounding on him. “You’re a vital part of it, after all.”
Donovan’s eyebrows rise in surprise. I don’t think that he was expecting that. I wonder just how stupid he thinks all of us are.
“Did you really think that North of all people would just casually discuss something personal or our plan in front of you if he minded you hearing about it?” I demand. “We know that you’ll take everything we’re saying and use it against us if you can. But you already know about Cain’s past so what’s the point in hiding anything from you about it? And you’re a vital part of our plan with Roanac so why shouldn’t you know what we’re going to do?”
“And what are you going to do?” Donovan challenges. His tone suggests that he fully expects us to not have any good plan at all, which, fine. He wants to underestimate us, that’s his problem.
We’re still going to destroy him.
“You’re going to take us to Roanac, and turn us into him, saying you’ve captured us,” I explain.
Dominic’s not as smart as I once thought he was, because he stares at me in shock. Like he actually thinks we’re going to turn ourselves in for real.
It takes a lot not for me to roll my eyes. And this was the guy I was once so worried about? For fuck’s sake. No wonder he’d sent bounty hunters after me. He couldn’t have handled it himself, could he?
Or maybe it’s just a sign of how much bigger my life had become, how I’ve moved on to deal with a bigger threat, because I have Roanac on my mind now, and he’s so much bigger than Donovan in terms of power and threat.
“We’re going to need you to pretend that you’ve captured us again for him,” I go on, folding my arms. “It’s the only way that we can get into Roanac’s lair and his guard will be down.”
“And you’re going to give us the opportunity to get free and attack once we’re inside,” North adds with a growl.
“Are you kidding me?” Donovan shakes his head. “You must be insane. Roanac is too powerful to betray. Do I look stupid to you?”
“Yes,” Raven replies.
The door opens again and Cain slips inside. He’s cleaned himself up, and I have to hide a smirk. He looks like he’s even hopped into the shower to take a quick rinse. I get a thrill in my chest at the thought, that I got him that messy and worked up, and he had to go and cool off and clean himself up.
I can’t wait to find enough time to relax and do that to all three of them. When we’re free and we’re able to relax and be together without worrying about all of us getting… you know… murdered.
I focus back in on Donovan. “You seem to think that you have a choice in this whole affair. You don’t. Either we kill you here and now, or you help us and possibly survive. Maybe Roanac will kill you, or maybe we’ll get away with it and you’re free. Which is better? Taking the certain death? Or taking the possibility of making it out alive? Hmm?”
Donovan scoffs. “You don’t know what you’re up against. The four of you with your paltry, puny magic up against someone like Roanac? Even some of the most powerful mages or vampires on the continent couldn’t stand a chance against him and you think thatyoucould go up against him? Andwin?You’re nothing but children in his eyes!”
Cain strides forward, and for a moment I’m worried that he’s out of control again, but then I realize that he’s calm and collected. There’s none of the wild fury in his eyes that I saw the first time. Instead he looks cold, like the demonic fire inside of him has hardened to steel.
“As if the children aren’t as deadly as the adults,” Cain hisses. “Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than the adults, because the babies haven’t yet figured out how to regulate their venom. If you say no to us, that’s perfectly fine. You think we can’t do it? Also perfectly fine.”
He crouches down so that he’s at eye level with Donovan and gives a slow, slow smile that I probably shouldn’t find as hot as I do. These really are dangerous men, each in their own way, but I love them for it. They use that danger to protect me and take care of me, and each other.
“But we’re not going to just kill you. I learned a lot about how to kill vampires, and how to make them suffer slowly. And Iwillmake you suffer as slowly as possible. It will not be quick. It will make youwishthat Roanac had you instead of us. Do you understand?”
I shiver instinctively. None of Cain’s anger is directed at me, I know that. I know that he would never hurt me, and I feel safe with him. But I can feel the conviction in his promise. He’s not fucking around. He’s going to make good on his words with Donovan if Donovan doesn’t agree to help us.
I would be lying if I said there isn’t a part of me that kind of wants to see that. The vindictive part of me that matches Cain’s vengeful side, the part that wants revenge on all vampires, is pleased and purring in my chest like a cat.
