Page 9 of Red Fire

“You’re right. It would be worse,” I rasp.

“Okay,” she whispers, nodding once. “What are your conditions? Sex had better not be one of them.” She shakes her head, her eyes going wide. “That would be too much like selling myself to get off this island, and I’m not that desperate.”

Yet.

The word comes into my head unbidden. She’s not too desperate yet, but she will be soon, at least once she realizes what we’re up against. Then, all bets are off the table. Lucky for her, I would never ask that of her.

I roll my eyes. “Thatisn’tone of the conditions, so you can relax.”

“Good, because I won’t change my mind. It’s non-negotiable.”

I snort out a laugh. “Sorry to have to tell you,sunshine,but you’re in no position to negotiate about anything.”

She starts to open her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. “I won’t make you have sex with me. Not now or ever. I’m not into forcing women. You’re tiny…probably too small for me, anyway.”

“Too small?” She snorts. “What does that mean?”

“I’m big and strong. I might break you.”

She gives me an amused look.

“What?” I ask her, frowning.

“Not that I ever want to have sex with you, because I don’t, but I’m stronger than I look.”

“If you say so, human.”

She cocks her head, looking at me like I just grew another pair of eyes. “Why would you call me that?”

“Because you are one. Forget about it. Can we move on to the important part of the conversation now?”

She nods.

“Good. I need you to do as I say without question and as soon as I ask it of you. It doesn’t matter what it is or when I ask it, you do it. You act quickly and quietly. Got it?”

“I have to do anything you say.” She sounds skeptical. “As in, anything?”

“Anything, Octavia. Unless you agree to this condition and then stick to it, I can’t help you.”

She nods. “I agree, as long as you don’t ask me to step off a cliff or to walk through a fire.” She lifts her eyebrows.

“Who knows? It might just end up being something like that. You need to agree, regardless.”

She gasps. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am! I’m deadly serious. You need to know that whatever I ask of you will be in your best interest. It would be to help you, not to hurt you or to hinder you in any way. My goal will be to getyou to Mistveil City, and then I’m out.” I lift both hands. “You’ll be on your own from there. That’s if we even make it. The odds are stacked against us.”

“This is really bad, isn’t it?”

She’s finally catching on.

I nod. “I’m not going to lie to you. It’s bad.”

She pushes out a deep breath. “I swear to do everything you say as soon as you say it. Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it.” She gives me the ghost of a smile. “You’re a good man, Creed.”

Only, I’m not a man at all…I’m a monster. It’s something she’ll find out soon enough.

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