Page 144 of Hunt Me

“You had planned?” Maricha echoes.

Uziah’s eye twitches at her shrieking tone. He looks at the soldier closest to his chair and gives a subtle shake of his head. Their division might be something I can exploit?—

“Regardless, you go tonight,” Maricha announces, drawing wary looks from the Crimson Roses. “We’ve prepared long enough.”

The soldiers look to Uziah, who nods, and they all murmur their agreement. This time, Maricha doesn’t miss the acknowledgment of their leadership. Her fury flashes in her eyes.

“Legion, you are hereby ordered to choose my commands over Uziah’s should one contradict the other.”

Uziah rounds on her, his glare lethally sharp. “You are overstepping our agreement.”

Maricha meets his gaze unflinchingly. “I am only cutting the edges as you have done.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your men pretend to listen to me but continue to look to you for the final word. I am only evening the playing field.”

“Maricha.”

“Legion,” she says, ignoring him. “You have your orders. You are dismissed for now.”

I’m halfway to the door before I realize the blood vow’s magic has yet to seal her orders. Unsure, I turn back to where Maricha and Uziah are locked in a heated conversation on their makeshift thrones. Clearly, there’s no love between them. Not even trust.

And I realize it’s now or never.

Too cautious to hope, I will myself to turn around. My body complies with the movements, and soon, I’m standing before them once again. The shock in me is mirrored in Maricha’s expression when she notices I’ve returned.

“What the hell are you doing?” she demands.

Uziah’s expression is crinkled in confusion, like he hasn’t fully understood the gravity of the moment.

“No,” I say simply, bracing myself for the magic of our blood vow to ignite against my words.

Before she can respond, a weak connection springs to life. One both familiar and welcomed in its existence. The mate bond. Through it, Tori’s life force sings back at me, and I cling to it. A light in the darkness. A loophole in the dark magic forcing my will to bow to my mother’s.

I have no idea how it’s possible or why it’s only happening now, but I cling to it like a lifeline. Her presence is a beacon in the darkness.

“The vow has been taken.” Maricha pushes to her feet and makes her way down the steps toward me. Uziah follows, his confusion turning to concern. “There is no refusing me now,” she adds.

I plant my feet, determined to stand as long as my free will lasts. “I have just done so, and there is no pain, no leash. No dark magic putting me in my place.”

I watch her outrage build, her eyes widening as she stops before me. “Impossible,” she breathes. “There is nothing more powerful than the blood oath.”

Uziah glances from her to me, thoughtful. “There may be one thing,” he says quietly.

They exchange a look, and I see the moment the truth dawns on Maricha.

“I will end her,” my mother screeches, whirling and heading for the door that leads to the dungeon where they’ve put Tori.

Fear grips me.

“You kill her and you will never have my cooperation,” I call out.

Maricha looks back at me. “And if I allow her to live?”

There’s no offer of mercy in her words. Only manipulation. And I’m not naïve enough to think she won’t still attempt to kill Tori in the end, no matter what we agree to in this moment.

“You will take me to her now. Give me one night with her. In the morning, I will carry out all your plans willingly. That is my offer and, frankly, your only choice if you want to use me for this destruction.”

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