Page 111 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

But then Gray dips his head, releasing me into the arms of his father and moving just off the dance floor but not out of sight, ever watchful as always.

I do my best to look like a hollowed-out object as the Collector takes Gray’s place, his hand more firm and repulsive on my hip as he moves us around on the dance floor. He’s only a couple inches taller than me, his large belly brushing mine as we move. Revulsion ripples over my skin, and I do my best to swallow back the mouthful of acid that gathers at the back of my jaw.

“You are a good little pet, aren't you?” he asks, twirling me around. “Look at you, practically a little puppet to my string. I knew Gray would do it, he always does.”

I dip my head in submission, doing my best to empty my eyes of any emotion. I’ve almost got these things off.

“I did tell the boy to put you in my colors though,” he says, grumbling as we continue to move. “He still has his mother's rebellious streak, despite my Treasure’s best attempts to beat it out of him when he was a youngling.” The Collector shakes his head, downright rambling. He has such faith that no thought will penetrate my mind too deeply. Goddess, can Gray really brainwash someone with his powersthateasily? And if so, why hasn’t he done it to me?

“You're going to help me,” he says.

“I will do whatever my Collector asks,” I say in a monotone voice that nowhere near matches my internal one.

Almost there.

Adrenaline is crackling in my veins as I get closer to dissolving the silver on my skin, my power swirling just beneath the surface. This is my chance. I'll never be this close to him again, never have an opportunity to sink my power into him as easily as this. His guard is completely down, believing me to be a submissive pet as he whirls me around the dance floor among his adoring subjects.

“My Treasure has big plans for you,” he says. “She's positively dying to meet you, but I told her that Gray had to break you first. Tonight was your first test and you’ve passed. You’ve done nothing to embarrass Gray, and you’ve ignored all the people you despise so much.”

His Treasure is going to be sorely disappointed when her plans don't work out.

“We will turn you into the weapon you were meant to be, making this Great Purge less bloody than the last.”

Icy shivers rake over my body at the casual way he talks about wielding me and my power against innocent creatures across the continent.

He smiles at me, nothing but maliciousness in those eyes of his. The song is reaching its crescendo, and I know my window of opportunity is closing.

I pour everything I have into the silver, willing it to bend, break, dissolve.

My heart races in my chest, everything swirling around me in a dizzying sense of detachment.

I send a silent note to Six again, wishing him well. I send nothing but loving feelings down the bonds of my Linked, hoping they can feel it. Hoping that they understand how much I wish I could ensure their safety but unable to lose this opportunity.

My focus narrows to a crystal-clear clarity as the Collector dips me for the end of the song, holding there for a moment.

I move my arms up, as if to wrap them lovingly around his neck just as the silver dissolves on my skin, unleashing my power from its hold. My magic gathers in my palms, surging in a force that will snuff the light out of him in one blow?—

A shock of white-hot lightning streaks through me.

I gorigidwithin the Collector's arms.

He immediately drops me, and I fall in a heap on the floor.

“Treasure,” the Collector chides in a loving tone, like he's playfully scolding a youngling. “That wasn't very nice. We were only dancing.”

My muscles seize from the shock of power that sweeps through me. Goddess, it'sstrong.

Spikes click against the marble floor, just by my ear before a female draped in a golden gown leans over me, whispering in my ear. “Ah, silly dearest,” the Treasurer says. “Didn't I teach you not to touch my things?”

Chapter 29

Livana

“The silly dearest fell,” she says in a tone loud enough for the Collector to hear.

The Treasure.

Mymother.

---