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He cut off as Ebony stepped forward, something vacant in his silver eyes.
“I’ll do it.”
Those words were followed by silence.
My heart was racing a million miles a minute. Drake and Rook were both back in the bond. Rook was shocked, and Drake was a ball of turmoil and dread. Neither spoke.
“You’re lying,” Zeus sneered, and there was something strange in his eyes. It didn’t make sense, but I could swear he was angry.
Ebony didn’t reply, instead reaching down and picking up the iron that still glowed a dull red. Three times, he had to press the brand to his skin. With the third mark of that slender arrowhead upon his flesh, it would be done.
“NO!” Vex fought Zeus, trying to reach for him. “Youcan’t.”
“On your knees, dog,” Cerus snarled, ignoring her.
With absolute control, Ebony lowered himself to his knees before them.
“Wait, you can’t!Ebony—!” Vex cut off as Zeus clamped his hand over her mouth.
I stepped forward, but Rook’s hand was on my arm.
What would this mean, though?
I’d lose him.
But we couldn’t leave her.
Zeus just stared down at Ebony, expression frozen. Cerus shifted forward, eyes narrowed as he watched. “Do it like you made him do it.” Hatred laced each syllable.
I could barely breathe.
Was this right?
We needed to free her. We were at the mercy of their demands. Even if backup arrived right now, it wouldn’t matter. If this pack got out alive, she would still be theirs.
That was if our backup was enough.
If we weren’t all killed.
But if he cleaved…?
I’d lose him.
Half a decade of regrets, denial, of dreams that went beyond this life we’d built, they all crumbled in that second.
I didn’t want to lose him.
He was my brother. My little brother; the one our mother had left behind. The one the world would leave behind, if I let it.
And if he left me now, I don’t know if I would ever get him back.
I’d taken another step, and I didn’t know why anymore. I knew we were out of options. Rook’s grip tightened. “Youcannottake this from him,” he said quietly.
“The deal,” Ebony said. His voice was rougher than I’d ever heard. He gripped the iron in his fist.
“An eye for an eye, Love?” Zeus said. “I will do to your pack what yours did to mine.”
I felt the bargain settle upon us. The weight of a promise that, once fulfilled, would complete the bond.
