I spat on his Italian leather shoe.
Sherwood glanced down at the spittle, disgust washing over his face before he smoothed his features into an unreadable mask. “Not that it matters any longer. None of you are leaving this room alive.”
I stiffened, rationale taking over my fury for the first time since our capture. My mind flipped through escape scenarios. We had no weapons. They had chained us to the wall. Shifting would get us out of the chains, but without weapons to kill Sherwood, we’d be dead in a second. And then there were the wolves outside the door.
“Let Marian go,” Robin blurted out. “I got her into this. I should be the one who’s punished.”
Sherwood’s lips lifted slightly. “And why would I do that? As long as she’s in the city, she’s a threat.”
Robin’s mouth flattened. “I have enough money so that Mar can leave Vegas and never come back.”
“That would only get her out of my sight, not out of mind.”
“Please,” Robin’s voice cracked, “if you ever loved my mother, do this for me. My life is nothing, but Marian . . . she’s the love of my life—like my mother was yours.”
My heart stopped at Robin’s declaration, and I tore my eyes from Sherwood.
“The love of your life?” I squeaked, unable to stop myself even though this seriously was not the time. “How can you even say that? We didn’t speak for years, Robin.”
Robin shook his head. “I wanted to call you every day, but I had a lot of growing to do to be good enough for you. Honestly, I don’t think I’m there yet, but I’m better . . . I no longer think only about myself.”
Sherwood lifted a finger as if he’d had an epiphany. “You’re the fox I’ve heard about, aren’t you? The equalizer of men? The bane of the one percent.” He cupped his hands as if begging. “Robin Hood, the fox who robs from the rich to give to the poor. No wonder you slipped into my hotel so easily.”
Sherwood shook his head, and although his tone indicated disdain, he looked rather impressed. “You know, had we met when I was building my fortune, I would have hired you. In fact, I could still have use for a thief of your skill. Interested?”
Robin’s chin jutted out in defiance. “When we take a job, we give most of it away and invest the rest inethicalcompanies or non-profits we believe in. I expect that would not make us ideal business partners.”
My heart stopped. What was he talking about?
“People always have a price,” Sherwood quipped.
“Not me,” Robin growled. “I only steal from those who have stolen before—whether they get caught or not.”
I sucked in a breath as realization washed over me. “You only steal from bad guys,” I whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Robin’s eyes fell to the floor. “I don’t know, Mar. Like you said, a thief is still a thief. I guess I wanted to spend more time with you first, so you’d fall in love with me again. Or at least, that’s what I hoped would happen. Obviously, it didn’t work out.”
My heart ached because he was so wrong. I wanted to deny it, even to myself, but what was the point now? We were surely seconds from death and lying to myself hadn’t done me much good as of late. It was time to come clean, to give us both a shining moment before the vampire tore us to pieces. “I love you Robin, I always have.”
His eyes lit up, but before I could truly enjoy the moment, Sherwood cut it short by opening his damned mouth.
“How touching. True love found again. Unfortunately, you have little time to savor it, for I will have to decline Hood’s offer. Sorry, Marian, there’s too great a chance that you’ll return to Vegas and stake me.”
If only I had a weapon, I’d happily end him right then and there. My fingers itched for a bow and arrow, and an image of me shooting Sherwood with a silver-tipped arrow arose in my mind.
My eyes popped open wide.
A silver arrow. Oh, my god.
My hand flew to where my necklace lay hidden beneath the uniform. My fingers grazed the silver arrow pendant. Would something so small work? Or did the silver have to puncture his heart like a dagger?
Surely not, if he banned all silver from the Oasis, right?
Either way, I had to try. As far as I could tell, my tiny silver pendant was our only chance.
“No!” I blurted. “I won’t betray you! I’ll give you what you wantandI’ll take a blood oath.”
Munchie and Will gasped. From the corner of my eye, I saw Robin stiffen. But it was Sherwood’s reaction, the way his lips curled up, that gave me hope.
