My body felt slow and heavy, but that didn't stop me from shooting the twins a victorious smile. "Nope."
Yes! I could speak. Tart rejoinders here I come, common sense be damned.
Something close to shock filled the faces of those around me.
Baran tried again. "Pet, you will obey."
"Even the vampires know better."
"We saved you. This shouldn't be possible," Breandan said.
I leaned forward, nodding at the table where the residue of their magic still lingered. "Guess again, asshole."
Breandan's eyes narrowed as his gaze dropped to the stone. "You managed to free yourself."
"Yup." My lips popped on the “p”. I didn't care if I sounded cocky.
Bring it on. The cockier the better.
Bluffing was an art form. Right now, it was all that was keeping me upright.
Whoever said false bravado couldn't be useful?
I stiffened my legs, resisting the urge to collapse. These people were like piranhas. Any hint of blood and they'd be on me.
"How fortuitous," Breandan pouted.
"Do not fret, Twin. The next time we need to free a fair maiden, we'll simply be quicker about it," Baran consoled him.
"That reminds me." Before I could think twice, I punched Breandan in the face, fierce satisfaction filling me.
His head snapped back. His lip was split, blood trickling from it.
The Jerry doppelganger laughed. "I think I like this one."
"That's for using me as a bed," I told Breandan.
"Such violence when I was only being friendly." Breandan took the handkerchief his brother handed him, pressing it against his lip.
Punching him felt good, almost making the close call worth it.
Breandan made a show of touching his mouth, his motions slow as his finger smeared the blood over his lip. He fiddled with the wound almost as if he rejoiced in the pain.
All the while he watched me, his eyes predatory, a half smile on his lips.
On the other side of table, Baran's face had gone blank.
"How rude, and here I thought we would be friends," Breandan said in a chiding tone.
Not likely.
The twins might not be on Travis's side, but they weren't on mine either. Any alliance we made would be temporary and against my better judgment. I'd have to treat them with the same caution I would an unexploded bomb.
"Maybe in the next life," I said.
"That can be arranged." Baran's stare was hard, a darkness in it that hadn't been there before.
Note to self, the twins took any physical violence against the other as a personal affront.
