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“I know you don’t trust me, and I understand why,” Okeus said, placing his hand on his chest. “I give you my word, Curse Keeper. If you agree to my arrangement, I will save the people you love. You only have to name them, and they will be protected.”
“From everything? The demons and Ahone?”
“Yes, if you agree.”
Could it really be that easy? I could make sure David, Myra, Claire, Drew, and Collin were kept safe from all the threats around us.
Then he added, “But the arrangement has changed.”
Weariness washed over me. Of course it had. “You and I both know that you can forcibly impregnate me anytime you want. So why is my cooperation so important to you?”
“Because I see the potential in you. And let us not pretend that if I forced you to carry my child, I would then have to imprison you to make sure you didn’t harm it. To do so would break your spirit, and it’s that spirit I need to create the perfect children that would result from our union.”
“Before you wanted me to have your baby. What do you want now?”
“For you to be my partner.”
This couldn’t be happening. “What does that mean?”
“Ellie, you will be my queen, the mother of a new race. You will be revered and loved for all eternity. And the humans you love will be protected.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out.
“I will save David from the Guardians. If you agree right this moment, I’ll have him retrieved and delivered to you within the hour.”
I shook my head in dismay. “Queen? What does that mean?”
He grinned. “Ellie, you are a bright woman, which is one of the things I most appreciate about you. You know what it means.”
I stared at him, trying to wrap my head around his words.
“You will be an excellent queen. Our many children will love you, and you will never be alone again.”
Many children?
“I sense your reluctance to make such a big decision so hastily,” he said, his voice lowering. “You have until tomorrow night to decide. While considering your answer, think about this…” He leaned closer to the doorway. “I am not the only one who wants you for your power, but I’m the only one who’s offering you something in return. Who’s the malevolent one now?”
Then he was gone.
Chapter23
Collin pulled me backward into the house and shut the door. “You need to go back to bed.”
I was still numb with shock. “I could have saved David—right now—and I didn’t do it.” My voice broke. “I didn’t do it.”
He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes penetrating mine. “Ellie, you can’t make a decision like that on the spot, not even to save David.”
I started to protest, but he shook his head. “I know you love him. I can feel it when we’re connected; your love for him fills me until I’m choking on it. This isn’t some crush. It’s the real fucking deal. Do I like it? No, I hate it.” Anger blazed in his eyes, then just as quickly faded. “ButIloveyou.I’mthe one who made your life this hell—” he grabbed the side of my head, his fingers digging into my hair “—but I’m going to help you fix it.”
Being this close to him sent my hormones into overdrive, and I pressed my chest against him, lifting my mouth to his before I could stop myself. Fresh horror washed over me. I might love David, but I was still irresistibly drawn to Collin.
“Ellie, don’t be ashamed,” Collin murmured. “We can’t help the way we feel. It’s part of the curse. I think Ahone’s plan is that my overwhelming attraction to you will be my downfall.”
I blinked up at him through tears. Collin’s destiny had been determined by Ahone just like mine was. Only Collin had been set up for destruction because of what his father had done and because I was a witness to creation. I was just as responsible for Collin’s predicament as I was for David’s. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. You called it hormones and magic. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this connection between us isn’t real. Maybe it’s all an illusion. So we’ll just keep trying to fight it.”
He was right. So why did his words make me feel so lost?
