Shit. Why was I defending Vin? He was a savage fuck-face who was so damn close to ruining everything.
Maybe because I wasn’t counting him out as an ally. Not yet.
“It’s his monster. I’m pissed that he’s not doing what it takes to fight it. He’s still treating it like an enemy. It’s fighting back, and it’s winning.”
Eros’ frown deepened. “Thenyouneed to fight it.”
“It’s too strong. I’m in a cage right now.”
My mate blinked several times in disbelief before pure rage consumed him, making his brown eyes blaze from the shadows masking his features. “He put you in a cage? Without your permission?”
I nodded.
Eros approached me once more and took me by the arms, giving me a small shake as if to knock some sense into me. “Ruby. Listen. Make him bring you back. If you have your father’s magic ability...” He trailed off, the little space left between us growing caustic. I knew where this was going.
“No. No way.” I tried to push him off, but he held me close in his punishing grip.
“You have to.”
My blood roared in my ears, and for a second, all I saw was red. I was getting pretty damn sick of men telling me what I could and couldn’t do.
“I won’t,” I snarled as I finally shoved him off me with a hiss.
He stumbled back, and his eyes narrowed, but he didn’t try approaching me again.
There were certain spells I wouldn’t ever try because they were straight-up evil. Specifically, the one that was enabling my father to waltz around in Dagon’s body, using his host’s magic like some gross meat suit.
“So if you’re telling me to pull that kind of sick magic on Vin, you can forget it. Come up with a new plan because that ain’t it.”
“What if it’s the only way of getting back home?”
I closed my eyes and tried to even my breathing. “I won’t lie. I considered it. Just for a second.” I opened my eyes, locking gazes with Eros. “I was so mad. He’s treating his other half like an enemy.”
My mate sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. “His two halves do share at least one goal, and that’s keeping you safe. With the looks of the number he did on Lexi, his monster’s so jacked up on pain that his primal instincts and ancient survival mechanisms are what’s running the show. If the fae part of him is ever going to care about the vampire war—” Eros cut himself off with a gruff snap of his fangs, and he slammed his fist into his own coffin, square between Vin’s spread legs.
The wood cracked, and Vincent swore in fae tongue that didn’t seem too accurate since this was Eros’ memory of the language creating the details.
“No. Screw that. The safest option is to have you use the magic of the Knight bloodline and force him to bring you home.”
“How is that the safest option?” I scoffed. “I know nothing about that spell. Even if I manage it, I have no idea how to end it without killing him.”
A shiver skipped up my spine as my thoughts momentarily went to Sterling’s memory of the vampire king peeling off the young scribe apprentice like wet paper mâché.
Eros’ expression softened. “It’s safest for you. I don’t give a shit about what happens to Feral. Not after this stunt.”
“I don’t think that’s true. Even if it is,Icare. There has to be another way.”
There was a barbed silence, then it shattered when the vampire expelled a frustrated sigh. “The only other way is to make him kneel to you as alpha once and for all. It needs to be more than dominating and mating him. He needs to believe you are the stronger monster and that you can protect yourself completely without his help.”
“How do I do that?”
The prince took a big breath. “Fuck me. I can’t believe I’m saying this. I’m not telling you to do this, by the way. If you weren’t so goddamn stubborn, you’d do as I say and use your freaky bloodline magic to wear that bastard home. But…you are stubborn. You’re Ruby Renanda Baxter, soon-to-be queen of the dead. I trust you to get your ass home safely, no matter what bat shit plan you end up going with.”
Despite all odds, I found myself smiling. It was nice to have a little goddamn faith from a mate.
“So, what’s the plan, Bat-Shit?”
The corner of Eros’ mouth quirked faintly. “Gain the respect of Feral’s monster by showing him the mortal world isn’t a danger to you. Show him you don’t need his protection by throwing yourself into the jowls of a creature that’s stronger than him and make it your bitch.”
