“Why?” I asked, my heart breaking a little. Not over Landon, but the trust he had let me build by being with him. “You were supposed to be safe. You were—” I frowned, replaying our entire relationship. Then, Desi reappeared, pulling Paulo along while holding a knife to his throat. “Boring,” I finished.I stepped over Landon.
“Tell her the truth. Why you brought her here,” Desi demanded.
“Fuck you,” Paulo spat.
Desi pressed the knife further into his throat. “I’ve killed ten thousand people just to know that woman’s name. I have no problem killing you if you roll your eyes again. Speak.”
“It’s not fair! You disgusting… Bloodborns!” Paulo cried out. I cocked my head in confusion. His face contorted as if it pained him to explain himself. “You have no idea how privileged you are. We just want what you have.”
“What do I have?” I pointed to myself. I was the poorest vampire I knew.
“The chance to have a legacy,” he said, softer. Paulo began to cry then, and blood tears streamed down his face. “To have a family.”
I blinked. A family? That’s what this was all about? Baby bats?
More vampires?
Jesus Christ.
“You were gonna murder me to try to have kids? With who? I’m the only fucking one with eggs!” I dropped my foot from Landon and stormed over to the crying Bloodshed. “What kind of logic is this?”
“It’s easy to find another willing participant once we can reproduce. We just needed someone special.” Landon’s voice came out raspy from behind us. I spun around to see my now ex-boyfriend standing and rubbing his throat.
“Special? Bloodborns aren’t special. What the hell is going on here?”
“Bloodborns, as a whole, aren’t, but you are,” Paulo said, and without hesitation, Desi slit his throat. The vampire dropped to the ground, and Desi went down with him, using the knife paired with his inhuman strength to bring the weapon deeper through his neck. Paulo fought but was no match for Desiderio Amato, the Seven Sin of Wrath.
“What does he mean? I’m special?” I asked.
“Ginata told us!” Landon exclaimed. He kept his distance, which was smart. “You’ve got some kind of power beyond normal Bloodborns. It’s in your blood.”
“It’s those pills she feeds you.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “All of you have gone batshit insane. Where’s the other one?” I shouted down at Desi, who was currently holding Paulo’s head in his lap. He tossed it down and stood. “He went easier than this guy. The captain is taking us back to shore, and we can leave. Just take care of this one.” He nodded to Landon.
“Why do I have to?” I pouted, stomping my foot.
“Because he’s the one that started this all. Fucking do it, Scout,” Desi snarled.
“Fine. But then you’re explaining what the hell he’s talking about.” I stepped over Paulo’s body and startedtowardLandon. He put his hands up and started backing away.
“Please, just let me be. I won’t tell anyone what happened. You guys can leave without Ginata knowing.”
“Why does Ginata care so much about me leaving?” I demanded, continuing to stalk him.
“I told you. You’re special. You’re related to some high priestess. That’s why people want you so bad. It’s why she wanted to keep you safe in her territory.”
“Well, you did one hell of a job,” I replied sarcastically. “You’re just as stupid as the others if you think I’ve got magic powers.”
“Ginata wouldn’t lie to us. She keeps us safe. She loves us.”
“Ginata loves herself. She sees you as another thing to collect. Nothing more.” Desi spoke up from behind me. I heard his boots step over the body. I turned just as he came up to me, handing me the knife he had just used on Paulo. I took it and clutched it tight until my pale knuckles went white.
“That’s not true. Without her, we’d all be lost. She found us, brought us to her sanctuary, and gave us jobs, homes, blood.”
“She treats the men here like you’re just animals getting a new home. Three or more to every woman. You don’t even pick them yourselves.” Desi shook his head in disgust.
“It’s—” Landon stopped talking and seemed absolutely stumped. Desi did have a point. Polygamy was supposed to be more than having sex slaves. The world Ginata, the Seven Sin of Gluttony, had created was just that—sexual slavery.
We reached Landon. Desi stood behind me, whispering in my ear to kill him quick. I raised the knife and looked Landon directly in the eye. I still couldn’t believe what he had planned for me.
