But instantly I knew it would cost me more than I was willing to give if I tried.
If I gave into the power, it would demand payment. It would take pieces of me, large chunks of my soul and will, until it completely ran the show.
I wasn’t naturally evil, but this ancient power could so easily push me past the point of no return.
Then what?
I didn’t want to find out.
“Sing, Ivy,” he growled.
I licked my dry lips and told him honestly, “No.”
“Now.” He shook me hard enough that my vision went blurry and a headache burst to life at the back of my skull. “You’re my property now. You do asIsay.”
“Make me.” The words were daring and stupid. I should never have challenged him.
I should never have come here with him.
Ryder could have fought him off. Zeus could have protected me. And yet I’d put myself in this position because I thought I could handle it.
But how? I had been an idiot to believe I could take on the god of the sea and win.
He dropped me so hard, my knees buckled beneath me. I would have fallen had the wall not been right behind me.
I slapped two open palms on the white-washed, textured wall and forced my legs to hold firm. I couldn’t show him weakness after all my bravado.
“Make you?” he taunted, taking a few steps back. “I think I will.”
I watched his eyes decide what to do before his hand ever reached out and I knew I made the wrong decision.
I had been selfish again. I had only thought about myself, when I should have finally been taking my friends into account.
I had already abandoned them once. I should be doing anything I could to keep them from getting more hurt. But I couldn’t seem to reason logically where Nix was concerned. I always opened my mouth first, then paid for his cruel and elaborate consequences later.
His hand trailed over Exie’s spine in a slow, caressing manner. His fingertips pushed her thin shirt up to expose her bruised, protruding spine. I bit back a sob that threatened to wrench its way from my throat.
His fingers brushed gently over her until they reached the back of her neck. He suddenly grabbed her so roughly she yelped and scrambled to push her body into his punishing hold to ease the pressure. He yanked her from the bed and held her like a rag doll in front of me.
Exie appeared haunted as tears fell from her eyes and her nails scratched at Nix’s hands and arms. She started to choke as he added a second hand and began squeezing. He lifted her until only her toes dragged across the floor.
His eyes never left mine. “Sing.”
I took a step forward, but he pulled her back, warning me with a glance. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. I started to panic. I didn’t know what to do. He’d left me with two options and both were impossible.
“Wh-wh-who am I singing for? There’s n-nobody here,” I argued weakly.
He glanced at the cell door as if he expected people to rush through it any second. “Just sing. They’ll hear you.”
Exie made a whimpering noise like she was trying to talk, but I couldn’t understand her. I dared to look at her, even while I knew Nix didn’t have the patience for me.
She tried to mouth something, but I couldn’t make it out. Her face had started to turn purple and her once-pretty blue eyes bugged out of her gaunt face.
“Sing!” Nix shouted, shaking Exie at the same time.
Sloane started crying loudly. She’d pulled herself tightly against the headboard like she couldn’t decide if she should run or just give up. She rocked back and forth, whimpering frantically.
“Help her!” she begged me.
