Theo shook his head.
“Or should I release him?” Micitian threatened. “Do you think he’ll stop coming after you or your mates?”
There was no question that Bramley would never stop coming after Theo or his mates.
“You can end it all now,” Micitian stated. “End him.”
“There are other ways,” Theo said.
Bramley screamed as flames burst from the bottom of the chamber. It was muffled but obviously very painful.
“For the unseelie king? If you send him back to face his own court, they will reward him not punish him,” Micitian said.
Was that true? Theo was aware that demons could and would lie about everything.
“He’s had days of torture at my hands,” Micitian claimed. “Still he looks at you with hate in his eyes. What will it be, Theo? Will you end his suffering and keep your mates at the same time?”
Theo wasn’t a killer. He’d spoken at length with Seb about what it meant to yielded unseelie magic. The one thing that Theo had learned was that his magic was a tool for him to use. Theo’s heart was pure and he didn’t intend to change that. Yes, there was a time to fight and battle, but this wasn’t it.
“What would your mates think?” Micitian asked. “If you chose your brother over them.”
Theo took a step back. “It’s not even a choice. My mates know that I love them.”
“But would you do anything to keep them safe? Would you kill?”
The answer was simple. “No.”
Micitian froze. “What?”
“My mates know what is in my heart,” Theo stated firmly. “They would never ask for me to take another life.”
“Fool!” Micitian boomed. “He would kill you.”
“I’m not him,” Theo replied.
“That’s for sure.” Micitian was mad enough to spit fire at him.
Theo jumped back.
“Maybe I picked the wrong side. The wrong brother,” Micitian said.
Hellcats! He’d messed this up. But Theo meant every word that he’d said. And he wouldn’t go back on his words now.
Micitian swiped his hand toward Bramley. The chains rattled as they slowly dropped from holding Bramley in place.
“You can stop this at any time,” Micitian told him. “Just take your revenge.”
Instead of spurring Theo into doing what Micitian wanted, the words helped Theo hang on to his resolve. Was he scared? Absolutely.
“Have it your way.” Micitian raised both hands, lifting Bramley from the coffin, chamber, whatever.
Theo closed his fingers over the amulet that hung from his neck. The amulet throbbed with the bond that was Theo’s entire reason for living. The love echoed in the tiny piece of jewelry.
Bramley landed in front of Theo and the gag was removed.
There was hatred in Bramley’s eyes. That made Theo feel bad for him. Theo was the chosen, had four wonderful mates, he was just starting his life. Bramley’s darkness had rotted his insides and he had nothing and no one.
“Face-to-face with your brother,” Micitian taunted. “What will you do?”
