“She couldn’t even keep up,” he goes on, and a faint huff of amusement leaves him. “Always tripping over her own feet, crying until you picked her up. Only you could pick her up.”
“Don’t fucking touch her,” I snap as his finger caresses her tear streaks.
His eyes slide back to mine.
“She trusted you,” he says.
My power stirs, sharp and violent. His wraps around me, pressing and pulling again.
“She still does,” he adds.
Laney whimpers as Jeremiah’s hold tightens, and Mellcom runs his hand over her head.
My vision tunnels.
“Let her go,” I grind out.
“I will.”
His answer comes too easily. Too fast. Hope sparks—stupid, desperate—and dies just as quickly when he tilts his head.
“When you come here.”
Silence slams into me. His smile is full of victory, and he’s right to feel like he’s won. I refuse to leave her in his hands.
Riven shifts beside me. “Yeah, that’s not happening, Golden Bit—”
“Careful,” Mellcom cuts in, not even looking at him. His focus never leaves me. “This isn’t a threat, Thay. It’s a choice. Your choice.”
My fingers flex around the handle of my sword while my nails bite into my other palm.
My stomach twists.
“Laney lives, with you and under your protection, if you stop fighting me and walk over here.”
Laney’s eyes find mine, wide and wet.
“Or you prove you’re exactly who I think you are.”
He shrugs, like she means absolutely nothing. My breath catches.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
His smirk sharpens.
“That when it comes down to it, you’ll choose yourself. You always have. What you think is right, fair, just. If it didn’t align with that, you showed out and made everyone’s life around you hell. You never cared what price it cost you.”
Rage explodes through me.
“I would never choose myself over her.”
“Then come here. Now.”
His demand drops like a blade, and his power presses against my skin again.
“Guys…” I breathe.
“We know what has to be done, little goddess.”
