"Blame your father for your current situation," Travis said unfeelingly.
It was clear he didn't care about any of what I'd said. Not that I'd really expected anything different.
"You'll do what we tell you," he informed me.
"If I don't?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "What do you think the vampires will do when they learn about your abilities? Magic breakers are highly sought after. They'll turn you into a tool."
Joke was on him. The important vampires already knew about my abilities.
"What about the Fae?" Travis continued. "They're always looking for your kind. How long do you think you'll last?"
I didn't respond.
"Travis," Callie said reproachfully.
Travis didn't look at her. "Give me what I want, Aileen. If you do, I'll make sure you have a place with us when this is all over."
Yeah, so he could use me in the exact same way as the people he was threatening me with. I'd prefer being the tool of either of those than giving him what he wanted.
Thomas could have warned him about how stubborn I could get when backed into a corner. I doubted it would matter. Travis wasn’t the type to listen to others.
"Enough, Travis," Callie barked. Her attention focused on me. "I know this is difficult."
I scoffed. Looked like they were going to try good cop now.
"You've always been different," Don said, catching my attention. His gaze was distant as if he was looking at something that only he could see. "You tried to pretend you weren't, but you always knew. You didn't fit in with the rest of the prey. They either loved or hated you for it. Everywhere you went you tried to find a place for yourself, but never could."
I snorted. "Do you think a couple of guesses are going to convince me? That I'll suddenly say, how did you know? Jokes on you. I was as normal as they came."
Don's eyes met mine. "No, you weren't."
His assurance silenced me. There was a little too much truth in what he'd said. That still didn't mean I'd fall in line.
Travis's expression turned cruel. "Also, if you don't do what we want, I will hurt you until you do."
I hovered on the cusp of daring him to do exactly that.
Baran caught my eye and shook his head once.
I hesitated as Breandan mouthed, "Buy time."
Callie stepped forward, her expression pleading. "We don't want that. You have to understand. There are so many of us who have lived on the outskirts for so long. They're weaker than us and can't protect themselves the way we can. Every day they fade a little more without a realm to sustain them. Already many of them have gone."
My gaze dropped as I considered my options.
As much as my temper urged me to give the captain and the rest a giant middle finger, the twins were likely right. Buying time was a better plan than allowing my stubbornness to force them to hurt me.
If he really did torture me, my chances of escaping on my own would be zero. At least this gave me time to plan.
There was also the fact the twins had gotten excited at hearing high Fae nosing around. Maybe they knew something I didn't. If so, I needed to give their rescuer time to get to us.
Much as it galled me, I was going to have to suck it up and work with them. At least for now.
"How exactly do you expect me to find anything?" I asked in a scathing voice.
I couldn't give in easily or else Travis would realize what I was planning.
