Page 58 of Mud

“Does the IDD know—” Kaid started again, his voice louder, ringing in my ears.

“No,” I choked, surprised that my voice worked, eyes closed and head down. “Nobody knows I’m here.”

A second of silence followed.

“Then why would you come here—especially inthiscondition?” asked the eldest—Radock. His voice was so well seasoned, a lullaby to put you to sleep—if he wasn’t flat out threatening me with his tone alone.

“Is this some kind of a trap?”

“Were you hoping to capture Taland alone?”

Laughter.

“Our little brother was foolish once. So young to have trusted afemale,” Radock again.

Iris, he sounded so angry.

“But he’s older now. And wiser. And he’s specifically demanded thathebe the one to kill you,” Kaid.

My eyes popped open, and the brothers were all looking at Taland, so they’d moved their bodies a bit to the side, and I saw him, too. Saw his face. Saw that cruel smile on his lips, the dark look in his eyes.

All this time I’d told myself that when I saw him, when I saw how he hated me, I’d understand. I’d never hold itagainst him.

After all, I deserved it—his hatred and contempt. Ideservedit.

But now as I looked at him andfeltall of it just as clearly as I felt the chain around my wrists, I realized it wasn’t so easy. It was hard to admit that this was Taland, despite everything. Hard to understand that I hadn’t really known him, not half of what I thought did, because the Taland I knew wouldneverstand there and smile like that, demand his brothers lethimkill me.

It was hard to digest all that disgust I found in his eyes, and when he leaned away from the wall, put his hands in his pockets, and started walking toward me, I saw it clearer with each step.

“I allowed it,” Radock said. “It’s only fair.Hesuffered in prison because of you, after all.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t call thatsuffering.It was more an…enlighteningexperience,” said Taland with a shrug, his voice flowing with such ease, thicker than I remembered.

And he still hadn’t stopped smiling.

“I always say people need an internship in prison before they can take on life,” said Radock with a laugh, slamming his hand on Taland’s shoulder. “You make me proud, little brother. And you shall have her when we’re done.Alive,just like I promised.”

Every inch of my body was covered in goose bumps as I looked at Radock first, then Taland.

He looked at Radock like the man was his god, and his smile only widened.

Then Taland nodded his head deeply. “That’s all I ask.”

Despite everything, despite knowing who I was and whohewas and what he’d done and whatI’ddone, wherehe’d been in the past year and eight months—I was still shocked at his words.

That’s all I ask.All he wanted was for me to be alive when his brothers were done with me. When they tortured me and Iris knew what else—he just wanted me alive so he could see the last of my light die down in my eyes.

Alive—that’s all he wanted.

“Stand back,” Radock said, and Taland didn’t hesitate. Walking backward, he kept his eyes on me, his smile on, his hands in his pockets until he was back to that corner and leaned against that wall.

“All right now, Miss La Rouge,” said Kaid, unbuttoning the sleeves of his black shirt, and rolling them up slowly. “Let’s try those questions again.” When he was done with his sleeves, he reached for his pocket and pulled out a big, shiny raven feather. He brought it to his lips, licked the hairs on one side quickly, and his fingers ignited in black flames at once.

My heart fell all the way to my heels.

Please, I wanted to say.Please, spare me. Please let Taland kill me.

Of course, I didn’t.

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