Page 86 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

“Yes,” he growls.

“And you let her fill your head with these ridiculous ideas?” Dornite accuses. “She’s beautiful, but think with something other than your cock, Zev.”

Zev gives a warning glare that has Dornite settling back in his seat.

“What happens if you fail?” Corshna asks.

“I won’t fail.”

“You might,” she says, shrugging. “You think no Collected have ever thought about killing him before? They have. But that’s before he breaks them. Whatever goes on in his keep…”

“You’re not wrong,” I respond. “But I’m determined. And I don’t think anyone has ever allowed themselves to be caught before. I’m prepared to carry this out or die trying.”

“I like you,” she says, wagging a finger at me. “You’ve got spirit.” She raises her stein, and I scoop up the one Jagger brought me, reaching over the length of table to clink it against hers.

We drink in some sort of silent agreement, but it feels the closest to progress that I’ve ever been.

“Okay, succubus,” she says. “If you succeed, we’ll make sure it’s not in vain.”

“Good,” I say, and sit back down, the crowd settling around us and descending into conversations that revolve around more what-ifs, like passionate conversations fueled by copious amounts of mead can do. Maybe it’s all boastful wishing on Corshna’s part, maybe there are no circles across the continent waiting for a chance to rebel, but there’s a thread of hope that can’t be denied filtering throughout the room.

“Thank you for this,” I say to Jagger, who watches me eat the plate of meat and fruit with concerned eyes.

“It all makes sense now,” he whispers, almost like he’s speaking to himself.

“Well,” Lugene says, nodding to Jagger and Zev. “If anything, your bounty has certainly made things more interesting tonight.” She pats Zev on the back, then rises from the table, wandering around the room to chat with one group of drifters or another.

“Your plan won’t work,” Zev says, his voice riddled with agitation.

“I didn’t say I had a plan,” I fire back. “But why do you say that?” I ask because I can’t help myself.

His golden eyes are searing when they meet mine. “The assassination of the Collector will take more than just one being. It will take multiple beings working together for it even to have a slim chance at success.”

“And?”

“And you don’t trust anyone,” he snaps, pushing away from the table and stomping from the room.

I follow him, Jagger close on my heels, until Zev finally stops in a room that is drenched in his scent. I assume it’s the quarters he uses when he travels here as Jagger closes the door behind us.

“You trust no one,” he says again, anger lacing his tone. “Even those who take care of you.” He eyes Jagger. “You didn’t tell us. After everything…you didn’t bother to tell us.”

“I have my reasons,” I say, my chest aching. “Don’t you think I’d love to trust someone? To have someone I can depend on?”

I think of Six, think of my Matched and how he would likely be that someone. I look at Jagger, then at Zev, my heart bursting with attachment. They’ve cared for me more than anyone before…could I trust them? If it came down to my life in their hands, could I trust them to never betray me?

No, because at the end of it, I’m worth something to them for very different reasons. Zev needs something from the Collector that far outweighs any connection we’ve formed. And that’s fair.

“We understand,” Jagger says, his voice soft and soothing. “You have more reason than most to be wary of everyone.”

I give him a grateful look, then return focus to Zev. “You don’t need to be a part of this,” I say. “Hand me over to Corshna,” I offer, and he narrows his gaze at me. “She’ll gladly turn me in to the Collector and you won’t have to deal with me?—”

“You’re mine,” he cuts me off, enveloping my space, making me shiver. “My bounty. Ours.” He glances to Jagger, who is behind me.

The energy crackles between the three of us in a way that makes the breath tight in my lungs and need pulse over every inch of me. I’m about to reach out and smooth my hands over his chest when a burst of warmth flutters across my forearm.

I move to hide my arm, but Zev grabs my wrist, examining the gold script.

“I knew I’d seen that before,” Jagger says, the two of them reading what Six wrote.

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