“Yes.”
“I’m not telling you.”
“I also gathered that.But why won’t you?I’ll show true remorse once I know who he is.”
I chortled, as dark as the abyss’ reaching shadows.“You’ve killed so many you can’t possibly figure out who I’m talking about on your own.”
“That’s right.”
He sounded almost … regretful.
“You’ve killed countless people and creatures,” I said.
“I have.”
“All for what?For greed?For more territory?For endless violence and death and conquest?To take, take, take, and take some fucking more?”
“Yes.”
Though his voice was steady, the blue-green of his eyes seemed to slosh like torpid ocean waves.
“Why?Why would you do that?”I said.
“I don’t get to decide my actions.”
“Of course you do.”
“I don’t, not really.”
“We all make our own choices.We might not like the consequences of those choices, but the choices are ours regardless.”
I tamped down the sense of hypocrisy that niggled at me.Didn’t I do what Rafaela asked of me without question because I knew disobeying her would land me—or more likely, Teo—in the cage?As our rebirther, she could do worse to us too—especially to him.Teo wouldn’t survive for long without her say-so.
“You’re right,” Alobaz said.
I narrowed my eyes at him.“Then free me.”
“I’d like to.But I can’t.”
“Can’t, or won’t?”
“Won’t.You tried to kill me.”
“I did.What a pity that I failed.”I grinned savagely.“There’s always next time.”
He hummed, almost as if … as if he wouldn’t mind dying nearly as much as he should.
“I have people to protect, who count on me,” he said.“So youwilltell me what I need to know.”
“I won’t do that.Not now, not ever.”
“Then prepare to be very miserable.”
I flashed my fangs at him.“Don’t you know?Since you took my brother from me, that’s all there is for me.”
“What, misery?”
“Yeah, misery.”
