Page 81 of Death Game: Supernatural Battle

She peered up at me, her eyes filling.

“Your father too.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed, and I wrapped her in my arms. “I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll be away for a few days, but there’s an ice-cream musical marathon with our names on it when I get back.”

“Love you, Basil.” She sniffed hard.

A fierce protectiveness surged within me. I didn’t know why she was here, but I was determined to never let her go. “I love you more, Tom.”

14

“I know you like my house better, but I thought you might want a soundproof room for this thrall,” Kyros said. “I’d prefer guarding a space with only one entrance if truth be told.”

I nodded, nerves fluttering in my stomach as he navigated the car through Green. “What will happen?”

We’d been through four thralls but never spent one in the same room.

“Sex, Basilia. Lots of it. I won’t hurt you though, if that’s what worries you. My urge to protect you is greater than the urge to mate, as you know.”

I stared ahead, not really seeing anything. “Okay.”

He shot me a look. “You were having fun on the catwalk in the beginning. Before that woman.” A menacing growl filled the vehicle.

“I was, actually.” Francesca shoved a bag into my hand before I left too. “It wasn’t all bad at the end. Tommy came back.”

Kyros was quiet.

“You can tell me how that came to happen any time you’d like.” I arched my brows. “I saw the weird looks between you two.”

He directed us onto the freeway. “Two days ago, I went to the hostel where she and her father were staying. I spoke with her and explained the situation with Theodore.”

I stiffened. “That’s all you did?”

“I didn’t compel her,” he growled.

Consider me surprised that hadn’t even crossed my mind. “I meant that Tommy was inconsolable two weeks ago. How the hell did you convince her?”

He pressed his lips together. “I showed her the video.”

I gasped. “The video of me killing Theodore?”

Kyros clenched his jaw.

“How could you do that?” I demanded, twisting to stare at him. “Shelovedhim.”

“She loved what he made her love. Your friend didn’t love Theodore Tonyi. When she saw what he did to you in the video, Tommy understood the distinction. Just as she understood what you’d done for her and what you went through. I went back to the hostel this morning and asked her to attend the fashion show.”

I wasappalledhe’d shown her the video.

I’d shrivel up and die inside if I had to watch Tommy go through that.

“Please delete the video,” I murmured, crossing my arms.

“I’d like nothing more,” Kyros said. “My father has ordered me to watch your ordeal until I can control my reaction to it.”

Shock hit me. “That’ssick.”

“It’s working,” Kyros disagreed. “At first it took me hours to calm down. Now I can get through the video without breaking too many things.”

---