Page 60 of Their Offering

Keir squatted down in front of her. “What should we do with you?” He was more than angry. She shook her head and refused to speak to him, but she wouldn’t look away from him. She was terrified.Good. She should be terrified.

“Leave her,” I answered for her. “Let her suffer for the rest of her miserable life. She isn’t worth our time.” I grabbed the twins’ hands as I glared at her.

When she looked at me, she broke. “I’m so sorry, Lilly. Please forgive me. Please. I had no money. I owed them so much, and they were going to kill me if I didn’t give them something.” She continued blubbering, and the anger grew in my chest until it exploded.

All I could do was laugh. “So you trade your daughter to save your own hide because you have no self-control?” I dropped the twins’ hands and approached her until I was only inches from her face. “I’ll see you in Hell,Mother.”

Keir bent down to his knees. “Be glad she was feeling merciful. If it was up to me, we’d torture you until death took you, then find you in Hell to continue the fun.” He looked at me, waiting for my next move.

Without a second though, I walked out of the room. The guys followed me, and once she was alone, my mother screamed, demanding to be let go. She’d figure it out. She always did.

“Lillian May Stallard, you get your ass back in here, you ungrateful little—” I shut the front door before I could hear more. I didn’t need to give her a long speech about how she was awful to me and how much I hated her. She knew.

When we got to the car, I was breathing fast, my chest tight. I was almost traded to drug dealers by my own mother, saved by my princes, all before I left my mother in the dust. I felt invigorated. She finally got what she deserved, and I was leaving it all behind. Forever.

I let out a laugh, and the brothers looked at me, their eyebrows drawn together. They were concerned, and rightly so. Once I’d calmed down, I addressed Keir. “I don’t ever want to feel that powerless again. When we get to Hell and close that portal, I want you to teach me how to protect myself.” I was done being the weakling.

“You don’t need to––”

I cut him off. “Iwantto. Please. Do this for me. These past few days, I’ve felt utterly weak, and every time, I had to wait for you to swoop in and save me. I don’t want to have to be rescued ever again. I’m tired of being the damsel in distress. I want to protect myself.”

He simply nodded, and I sighed with relief.

It was time to go to Hell.

Chapter 29

Lillian

The twins held my hands tightly as we passed through the portal. Keir looked a million pounds lighter once we appeared back in Hell.

“Is it going to hurt?” All three brothers looked at me with confusion written across their faces. “Closing the portal. Will it hurt?”

Keir smirked at me. “Always so dramatic, Lillian.” He rolled his eyes, but he appeared more playful than before. He was clearly relieved to be back, so much so that he was coming back to the Keir from last night. “You’ll close it the same way you opened it: with your blood.”

“Oh.” I nodded. “Okay then. I can do that.”

As we reached the building’s front, Keir held his hand out. When I placed mine in his, he flipped it so my palm was up, his dagger hovering above it. I tensed, waiting for the cut. Instead, he squeezed my hand until I looked up at him. He stared deep into my eyes, deep enough to make my heart race.

Ready?His voice was back in my head. Right. Heightened emotions. This was a big deal, for both of us. It made sense.

I nodded.I’m ready.

He placed the blade to my palm, and I closed my eyes. Nothing happened, so I looked back at him to find him still staring at me.

What?

Don’t close your eyes. Please.

I held his gaze with my own, even as he dragged the blade over my skin, slicing into it. He looked as though he winced with me.

You okay?

I nodded at him.I think so.

He took my hand and pulled me to the side of the door. He pressed my bloodied palm firmly to the stone, then held my hand as the door swung closed, and I jumped when it slammed.

“Wow,” I whispered. It was done. I was trapped in Hell. There was no going back. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing.

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