Page 57 of The Devil of Hollywood

“Marian.”

Footsteps approached, but I slammed the mirror on the top of the dresser’s surface, knocking the glass loose. Just as Drayton approached, I jerked out the piece, pointing it towards him.

“I’m not going back.”

“You’re not going back. I won’t leave without you.”

“Not you.” The glass was bouncing towards him as I tried to emphasize my words. I moved it in Elec’s direction. “Not you.” I stopped on Bram Whitlock. “You. You can’t let them keep me. What do I have to do? What can I do to get out of here? Without them.” I glanced towards Drayton and Elec but went back to Bram. “I am no man’s surrogate. I’m not a science experiment or a fucking option. I am Marian LaRoe. I am not my mother. I did nothing! Ask Elec. Ask him. He knows. I am innocent, and I will no longer let my life be dictated by her or her crimes.”

“I know you’re innocent. The Council has seen the footage from your parents’ home. Your mother kept the tapes like trophies. She drugged you. She forced you to accuse Drayton. We know, and soon everyone will too.”

A loud exhale left me, and I felt dizzy with relief.

“You know the truth?”

“We do.”

“Then… let me be free.”

“Marian, there are a lot of factors⁠—”

“Fuck the factors, Bram. My life is worth more than these factors. I am a daughter of one of the circle’s founders. Me. I know my worth, and I’m not just talking about my blood. Whoever wins this stupid pissing contest will be rich beyond their wildest dreams. I’m not a fucking lottery ticket! I’m not revenge,” I said, glaring at Drayton. “I request you take my concerns to the rest of The Collective High Council. I have the right to the outcome of my fate. Fuck all of your opinions. I think I should be able to have a say for my goddamn self. After all, my innocence has been proven. That has to count for something.”

The men looked at each other. I was squeezing so tightly blood was dripping to the cement floor. The drip-drip had my eyes rolling through the wave of lightheadedness. I swayed, and Drayton swooped in, pulling the glass from my hand and holding to me as he moved me back to the bed. He grabbed a cloth and gauze from the stack the doctor left behind, wrapping up my hand.

“You can request a meeting with The Council all you want, but you’re marrying me, Marian. I own you. They can’t take that away.”

“Actually.” Bram’s voice had both of us looking over at him. “We can. You’re not married yet. Until the day comes, we can change our minds.”

“You said they were reevaluating. Is that what’s happened? They’ve changed their minds?”

“Not yet. But they’re going over the requests again. With Marian being taken, and the damage and claims I reported, they want to make sure they’re not missing anything. I don’t see them changing their mind. But our vote was very close.”

“You voted on my fate?” I pushed Drayton back from me, in too much pain to sit on the bed. Standing wasn’t helping either. “Why must I be forced to marry? Shouldn’t I get to choose? I’m innocent!”

“You’ll choose me.”

Drayton was glaring, looking between the two of us.

“I’ll choose no one.”

“Enough. When The Unavowed receives the call, he will bring us in. We can discuss it more then. Marian, you may state your case to The Council.” He paused, his face softening the smallest amount. “I don’t see them granting your wish. With your mother’s crimes, just speaking to them may do more harm than good. I wouldn’t suggest it. They want you settled⁠—”

“More like silenced!”

He nodded. “They will make you marry someone.”

“And it’ll be me.”

My gaze cut over to Drayton. “So you can make me pay? So you can spend a lifetime hating me? Why would I choose that life? I’d rather…” I stood straighter, tilting up my chin. “I’d rather marry Elec than you. At least he doesn’t want to hurt me.”

Elec made a sound, and he couldn’t hide the anger as he put his focus on me. “You’re wrong. After what I’ve been through with your mother, you have no idea how much I’d love to make you scream. I would hurt you. I may even kill you.”

“You wouldn’t kill me. We both hate my mother. It’d be a mutual torture. It might be interesting.”

“It would be disastrous.”

“You’re not marrying Elec,” Drayton ground out. “You’re marrying me.”