“That’s a worse punishment than death, you know!” someone shouted from the back, and laughter rippled through the spectators, but there was a nervous edge to it.
Ciro looked out at the crowd, weighing his options. He was enjoying this, savoring the power he held over me and Will. “Let’s see what you all want. After all, this is an event to please our loyal lords and leaders of The Below. All in favor of allowing the wench to go with The Shadow, raise your hand.”
At first, only a few hands shot into the air. Soon, though, groupthink took over and the majority raised their hands.
“Very well,” he said, raising his voice to silence the room and turned to face The Shadow. “What ifIwant to take the girl as my own prisoner?” His gaze slowly raked over my body.
Shit. Maybe Ciro did remember me. I wasn’t sure which of the two monsters would be worse. It was like choosing between two different levels of the same hell.
The Shadow stepped closer to Ciro. He was silent as some of his shadows detached themselves from his body, slowly creeping up Ciro’s legs like snakes, squeezing his body and neck until Ciro’s face turned a sickening shade of purple.
Ciro waved his hands wildly. Though they were pinned to his sides, it was obvious he wanted The Shadow to listen to what he had to say. The shadows retreated, and Ciro gasped for air.
“The decision has been made.” He turned to The Shadow, bowing slightly. “She is yours.”
The Shadow grunted. “That’s what I fucking thought.”
I could hardly process what was happening. My body was so numb, I barely registered that I was shaking violently. Will clung to my arm, his face stricken with guilt and horror, but he was alive. I had bought him his life... at the cost of my own.
My mind was spinning, trying to process what had just happened. The roar of the crowd was still ringing in my ears, but it felt like I was underwater, everything muffled and distant. Will’s arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into a crushing embrace. His entire body trembled against mine, and I could feel his tears soaking through the back of my dress.
“I can’t let you do this,” he sobbed. “Vivian, you can’t?—”
I twisted around to face him, pressing my hands to his cheeks and forcing him to look at me. His eyes were wide and red-rimmed, his expression frantic. He looked for all the world like a scared little boy lost in the dark.
“Will, listen to me,” I said, my voice low and urgent. I had to make him understand. “This is the only way. If there’s even a chance that both of us can survive this, then I have to take it.”
He shook his head violently, trying to pull away, but I held him firm.
“You need to leave here. Do you hear me? Get out of The Below and don’t ever come back.” My throat clogged with emotion, but I pushed on. “Go home, Will. Start over. Findanythingelse to do with your life. Don’t you dare get involved with any more of these games, do you hear me?” I dug my fingers into his cheeks, grounding myself in the feel of him, the one thing I couldn’t bear to lose. “I want you to live. Live, Will.”
He was crying so hard now, tears streaming down his cheeks, and it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him cry like this. “Vivian, I?—”
“I love you,” I whispered, pressing my forehead against his. “More than anything. But you have to let me go. Don’t you dare waste the sacrifice I’m making.”
Before he could respond, a cold, unyielding hand clamped down on my arm and yanked me back. The sudden force knocked the breath out of me, and I was jerked away from Will so fast it felt like the ground had vanished beneath my feet. I gasped and tried to pull away, but the iron grip only tightened.
I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. The Shadow. His black shroud of darkness swirled around him, cloaking his features, but I could feel his cold, mocking gaze piercing right through me.
“This woman will get what’s coming to her,” he announced, his deep voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd. A deafening silence settled over the crowd as every eye locked on us. It wasn’t enough for him to drag me off like some criminal; no, he had to make a fuckingspectacleof it. A power move to remind everyone how untouchable he was.
I could see right through him, even if his face was hidden behind that swirling darkness. He might be shrouded in shadows, but his arrogance was as clear as daylight.
He pulled me harder, practically dragging me across the stage. My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright and keep pace with him. The crowd was a blur of leering faces, whispering and chuckling as we passed, their hungry eyes soaking up every second of my humiliation.
I twisted my head around, desperate for one last glimpse of Will. He was on his knees now, crumpled on the floor like a rag doll, his face as white as a sheet. The guards stepped forward, grabbing him by the arms and hauling him away, but he barely reacted. He looked like he was on the verge of passing out.
I had saved him. That was what mattered.
But as the shadows pulled me deeper into their grasp, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just made a deal with the devil himself. And now, there was no going back.
I choked back a sob, tears threatening to spill again, but I forced them down.Not here. Not in front of him.I couldn’t let Will see me break. If this was the last time he would see me, I needed to be strong.
The Shadow’s grip was like a vise, digging into my arm as he yanked me off the stage. The minute we were through the doorway, the noise of the crowd cut off like someone had flipped a switch, and his hold on me loosened slightly. The heavy door swung shut behind us with a dull, echoing thud, and the only sound left was my ragged breathing.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, trying to wrench my arm free, but it was like trying to pull away from a steel trap.
“Home.”
