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Ty doesn’t let her go until we’re standing in front of the suite Tanner arranged for her. Once the door is open, he puts her down and then steps inside. Kier goes in, making himself at home on the couch while I shut the door firmly behind me.
“I’m not going to be your fucking slave!”
I knew she’d be angry; I just didn’t expect her to shout or swear at us. Before any of us can say a word, someone knocks on the door. When no one makes a move to answer it, the door flies open. Tanner glares into the room, his chest heaving as he braces himself on the doorframe. “Release her to me.”
“No.” Kier grabs Ryxa around the waist and pulls her down onto his lap. “We have no intention of releasing her. She’s safer with us than with any of the other Gods.” To everyone’s shock Ryxa leans back against Kier’s chest and starts laughing.
Movement out of the corner of my eye has me turning just in time to see Tanner close the door. He strides across the room and kneels down in front of Ryxa and Kier. “Are you okay Munchkin?”
“It’s fine. Kier’s right, I am safer here with them than I am with anyone else.”
“You’re safe with me, you know that.” Tanner tries again.
“She’s safe with us too.” I say, as I sit down beside Kier and Ryxa.
“You don’t understand. I don’t have a choice. I have to stay with them.” She’s talking directly to Tanner, but I’m the one who responds to her words, “What do you mean?” Her face goes bright red, her mouth opening and closing but no words come out. She slaps a hand over her mouth and bends over, groaning in pain.
“What’s happening to her?” Ty hisses, crouching down beside Tanner.
“Ryx, just breathe, stop trying to say it.” Tanner lifts her chin, staring right into her eyes. “Breathe with me, in, and out. In and out.” It takes a few tries but he finally gets her to calm down. “What just happened, does it have something to do with why you need to stay with the guys?” We all watch as she winces but manages to nod.
“Can you handle a few more yes or no questions?” I ask, worrying we might push her too far. Again she nods, but it doesn’t hurt this time. “Okay, is someone forcing you to be with us?” tears run down her cheeks, she doesn’t nod, or shake her head, she’s frozen like a statue.
“Enough!” Kier snaps, pulling her closer and wrapping his arms around her stomach. “Just breathe, Angel. We’ve got you. I promise no one will ask you any more questions.”
“This is bullshit. We’re not the ones forcing her to stay or she’d be able to talk to us, which means someone else is. Who would do this?” I can’t sit here when I know someone is doing this to her. I leap to my feet and pace across to the kitchenette, then back again. My feet echoing in the room with how quiet it’s gotten.
“Calm down, Seth, we’ll figure this out, but I think it’s a safe bet whoever did this is a full God. That leaves us with only a few suspects. Let her rest for tonight and we’ll try again tomorrow.” Tanner gets up and pats her on the knee like she’s his little sister. I can’t help making the comparison to the two of them. Both have blonde hair so pale it seems fake and eyes the colour of the clearest waters.
I know it’s impossible, but I can’t deny what I’m seeing. I don’t say the words out loud, but I’d bet anything that I’m right.
“What are we going to do? We can’t leave her, she’s officially our liaison. I don’t even know why we bother calling it that, it’s not like it’s true.” I growl, sitting down again. “Ryxa, we need to tell you the truth.”
“Seth, don’t. You know we’re not supposed to tell them anything.” Tanner warns.
“I don’t care about the rules right now. If you don’t want to be part of this, then leave, but I’m going to tell her everything before this goes too far.”
“Tell me what?” Her voice is raspy, but strong which makes me smile softly at her.
“Humans aren’t brought here to be liaisons or anything like that. They’re brought here because we have to feed off them when we come into our powers.”
“Feed?” She looks horrified.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, Seth, if you’re going to tell her, tell it properly.” Tanner snaps, “Gods aren’t born with their powers already unlocked. They actually don’t get their powers until their eighteenth year. They fall into a deep slumber that can last for a day or even up to an entire month, during that time they survive by…” He trails off for a moment then says, “Feeding isn’t the right word, but it’ll do, the Gods survive the prolonged slumber by absorbing the life essence of humans.”
Ryxa wriggles out of Kier’s hold and gets to her feet, moving a few steps away from us, she finally says, “So you kill the humans?”
“No. It doesn’t harm humans at all. They get extra hungry or tired, but other than that, they don’t feel any lasting effects from being fed off.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad then.” She hedges. “Why’d you make it sound like it was a horrible thing?”
“Because the final step in unlocking the powers is to make a sacrifice.” I state plainly.
Her pale eyes go wider than I’ve ever seen them before, it takes her a moment or two before she asks, “What do you sacrifice?”
“Seth, that’s enough!” Kier’s on his feet and storming towards me but he’s too late, the words come pouring out of my mouth making everyone freeze. “We sacrifice love.”
“What?” Ryxa begins, then turns her wide eyes on Tanner, “No!” She shakes her head, making her long hair swing from side to side. “Tell me you didn’t.” Her tears make her eyes shine so brightly that I get lost in them for a moment.
