I shouted as he violently slashed it across his cheeks, lips, and tongue. Scarlet poured down his chin.
Augustus uncorked the vial with a pop and dumped my blood into the two crystal glasses.
They wouldn’t.
“Don’t worry,” Augustus said silkily, his midnight eyes predatory. “We’re going to give youexactlywhat you wanted, my carus.”
Kharon handed the knife over and picked up the glass of my blood. “Cheers, Alexis.”
Kharon threw back my blood and swallowed. Augustus stuck out his tongue, cut himself with the knife, then drank from the second cup. They both smiled—revealingmyblood mixing with theirs, covering their teeth.
They did.
“Fuck you,” I whispered with horror, gripping the arms of my chair. My sternum ached as my power reacted.
“Well, wife.” Kharon arched a brow, licking his mutilatedlips wickedly. “Go for it. Break the bond—free yourself from us. I fuckingdareyou.”
I shook my head and gritted my teeth, chest heaving as I fought to try to calm myself.
Patro jerked and I met his panicked gaze. He was trying to tell me something with his eyes.
What did he say to me back in the gladiator sands? Calm my breathing?
I gasped for air.
Excruciating pain burned inside my chest. For the past weeks I’d been trying to access my power in the shower, and now it wanted out.
Kharon and Augustus sauntered around the table.
Wood scraped against marble as I turned my chair to keep them in my line of sight.
My vision blurred.
They stopped in front of the hearth, and the orange haze behind them created the illusion that they were standing in front of the gates of Hell.
Cheeks flushed, their eyes were unfocused, and glazing over with agony.They’re feeling my pain.
There was fifteen feet of open space between us.
Too far to touch; close enough to kill.
All three of us gasped for air like we were suffocating.
They swayed slightly as they also fought an invisible battle.
Patro shouted something louder behind his gag and the table shook as he kicked it.
None of us looked over.
“Do it, carissima.” Kharon’s voice dropped an octave, eyes hooded as he spit blood onto the floor. “Takeyour revenge—I know you want to. I saw your face. Just go for it … Man up, sweetheart, and pull the trigger. For once,hityour fucking target.”
His words were fire, and I was the oxygen.
Pain exploded in my chest.
Lightning flashed as I reared back in my chair.
“After all … isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” Augustus arched a dark brow, his scar an angry slash. “Don’t tell me you’re backing out now. Not when we’re giving you exactly what you want. Take the offering. Have your divorce … MURDER US!”
