Page 66 of There's No Place Like Oz

Talos asked me through our connection. Dorothy glanced in his direction, looking mildly confused by what he might mean, butIwasn’t confused. I nodded to Talos, I tipped my chin to Leon, then I returned my gaze to Eloise.

“So sweet little Toto is a fuck puppet trafficker. Who’d have thought?” I kept my expression neutral as I approached our comrade who remained on his knees. He was still sobbing in shame. Sentimental bullshit that only proved how soft his heart actually was. “He must be the strongest of all of us then.” Another step. Eloise placed a hand on her hip. That confidence was as unwavering as it was unearned.

“I’m much more picky about the company I keep than my cousins. Only the best and the most powerful are allowed to remain in my glass castle.”

Oh, what a burn. I didn’t roll my eyes only because I didn’t want to ruin the surprise. He could have been stronger than me, but that didn’t matter. I’d never be on the receiving end of his wrath.

“Is that right?” I looked down at Tobias, who continued to be absolutely pitiful. That wouldn’t do. I needed all that alleged power, and I needed itfuckingangry. “On your feet, Puppy Dog.” I spoke harshly, implying anger, but mostly for my own amusement. I could play this role in the show one more time for one more witch.

Tobias stilled, and his sobbing quieted.

“Stand up and look me in the fucking eye.” I demanded again.

Tobias drew his hands from his face slowly. His nose and eyes were red with his tears, while those past atrocities flooded his annoyingly soft heart. “Crowe… I’m so sorry.” He muttered again.

“Stand. Up.” I repeated. And this time he listened. He lifted his chin, and he looked me in the eye. His gaze darted to Leon, to Talos, back to me. He didn’t look at Dorothy. He was likely much too scared to see her disappointment. “Tobias.” I annunciated every syllable carefully. “You heard the woman. You’re the most powerful person in the room.” I swept my hands across the open space. “Why don’t you fucking prove it.”

Tobias’ eyes widened. Eloise lit up, like I’d just challenged him to a fight to the death.

Idiot.

That lightning fast movement, where Tobias turned around, tensed his grip, and grabbed his witch by the neck with a violent swing, made me fucking cackle. He had her pinned to the wall faster than she knew what was happening, with his teeth bared in a growl, and his face possessed with pure, unbridled, hard-earned loathing.

“M-my prince, what are you doing?’ She choked out through the vice grip on her throat. “I’m your witch—your queen. You can’t—” He dug his fingers into her with unforgiving rage.

I knew he’d get my meaning. The witches mistook magical limiters that kept us from killing them with genuine weakness and simplicity, and time and again, that would be their undoing. Even if Dorothy had to be the one to drop the blade, it would be their victims who put their head into the guillotine.

I clapped a soft and delicate golf clap, then I turned to Dorothy. “Go on now. You know the drill. Kill that bitch.”

Chapter 53

“A-aren’t you mad that he—”

“No.” Crowe interrupted me with a raise of his eyebrows. “You’ve seen enough of Oz to know that light kidnapping barely registers as violent. I’ve done way worse shit than that, and I did it for fun.” He punctuated with a chuckle. “Hell, I still do.”

I thought they’d take it more personally, but Leon shrugged next. He walked over to the wall, where crystals dangled like rodeo fringe across the glass surface. He ran his hand along the surface, creating a piercing and chaotic song of chiming glass. “I was the one who failed my Pride, not him. Let’s put an end to this nightmare once and for all, and we can start to rebuild again.”

“Leon…” I clutched my hands to my heart, grateful that his bond with Tobias was true.

Talos reaffirmed for all of them.

I nodded to all three of them, then I took my first step towards Tobias and Eloise. “Tobias.” I said softly. He looked back at me and tipped his chin.

“Dorothy.” The way he said my name sent chills down my spine. I pulled Sasha’s knife from my pack, and Tobias manhandled Eloise into an arm lock. He held her from behind, and he kept his eyes on me. Strength and calm filled me, just as it always did when I was with him, and I took steady steps towards the fourth and final Witch of Oz.

“How can you forgive him so easily?” Eloise squirmed. They always thrashed about, like a fish on a hook.Pathetic, I thought. “He kidnapped you all! He sold you!” She screamed.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Leon said.

“I actually like him better knowing he’s not so pure and perfect.” Crowe noted with a shrug.

Talos added so casually through our bond.

As reassuring as their forgiveness was, I knew it was me who Tobias wanted to hear from most. I readied my blade, and I looked to my former emotional support dog, my best friend, and my lover.

“We’ve all made mistakes.” I spoke boldly. “I’m nowhere near as pure and perfect as Tobias believes me to be, yet no matter how much I’ve mess up, how many bad choices I’ve made, he still stuck by my side, through thick and thin, always,alwaysbelieving me to be worthy. If I were to walk away from a man who can only see the good in me, even when I’ve showed him my ugliest tears and my most shameful imperfections, who loves me so fiercely, he would risk his own goodness and turn into a killer to keep me safe, just because he’d once given himself to someone evil, that’s the only thing that would truly make me a failure.”

“Dorothy…” I saw the tears of relief in his eyes, and I was glad I could put them there.

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