Page 49 of The Scarlet Veil

“You ask an awful lot of questions.” Odessa flicks an arch glance toward Dimitri. “And you shouldn’t indulge her. Michal will already be furious—”

“No one forced you to come, darling sister.”

She scoffs. “Someonemust protect your neck, as you’re quite insistent on sticking it out as far and as often as possible.”

Dimitri chuckles, inclining his head to a pair of Éternels, who bow stiffly to both him and his sister. “And why shouldn’t we answer her questions? Aren’tyouthe one who always sayscuriosity killed the cat, but—”

“—satisfaction brought it back,” she finishes irritably. “This is different, and you know it.”

“Come on, Des. Who is she going to tell?” To me, he adds, lowering his voice, “You can only leave this isle by ship, and vampire sentries overrun the docks—they’ll kill you before you touch the gangplank.”

My stomach twists, and I release the butterfly to the wind. It spirals upward toward the crow, who promptly eats it. “I assumed as much.”

He turns to Odessa with a self-satisfied smile. “See? She knows better than to flee. And to answer your question”—he squeezes my arm companionably—“their ancestors immigrated centuries ago, but Michal gave each family a choice before bringing them here.”

“What sort ofchoicecould he have possibly given them? And how could they have refused? According to Odessa, Michal jealously guards the secret of this place. He would have killed everyone who knew of its existence.”

Though Odessa tenses slightly at my tone, she pretends to examine her reflection in the window of le chapellerie as we pass.“Have you never heard of compulsion, darling?”

“Odessa,” Dimitri warns, his dimples fading. He slides behindme to walk between us. “Don’t even think about it.”

She shrugs absently, but the set of her jaw, her shoulders, says she isn’t absent at all. Her reflection meets mine in the window, and the tiny hairs on my arms rise.Compulsion.Even in my thoughts, the word feels strangely forbidden, strangely... sensual. But it’s only aword. Shaking my head, feeling ridiculous, I say, “Of course I’ve never heard of compulsion. I’d never even heard ofvampiresbefore this evening.”

Those feline eyes flick to mine. “Would you like to know what it is?”

“Odessa, stop—”

“I told you, Dima, I will protect your neck—andmine—even if you refuse to do the same. Célie needs to understand the true danger of Requiem. If she plans to continue provoking Michal, she should understand exactly what she risks.” She steps closer, offering me her hand. Offering me achoice. “Shall I compel you, Célie?”

I glance at Dimitri, whose handsome face has hardened to stone as he glares at his sister. He says nothing, however. He won’t stop Odessa from compelling me—whateverthatis—and he won’t stop me from asking her to either. Perhaps I should forgo the whole thing. Clearly, Odessa is still irritated, and even in my limited experience, an irritated vampire doesn’t bode well. I already know the danger of their speed, their strength. I know the danger of theirteeth. What more could there possibly be?

What more could there be?

The question might kill me. Hopefully satisfaction will indeed bring me back, because Odessa is right. Idowant to know. I take her hand. “Show me.”

Squaring her shoulders, she tilts her head with a hard smile. “Excellent.”

We lock eyes.

At first, nothing happens. Unsure, I glance at Dimitri, but Odessa catches my chin in her hand, holding my gaze. “At me, darling. Look only at me.”

The strangest sensation creeps over my mind in response—like a spectral hand has reached out to touch it, to caress it, to seduce it into tranquility. No. Intosubmission. Part of me wants to lean into that touch, while another wants to recoil, wants to flee as far and as fast as I can. Before I can act on either, she purrs, “Tell me how you plan to strike at us before All Hallows’ Eve.”

“Des,” Dimitri says sharply.

She doesn’t break our eye contact.

“I plan to warn Coco of Michal’s trap.” The answer spills from my lips of its own volition, soft and sure and serene. With each word, the tranquility deepens, enveloping me in lovely warmth until I cannot help but smile with it.Thisis the danger? I have never felt more content in my entire life. “I plan to manipulate Dimitri into revealing your weaknesses, and I plan to avenge Babette and the others’ deaths by killing you if possible. I plan to kill every Éternel on this island.”

“Damn it, Odessa.” Dimitri runs a hand down his face, breaking his stone facade. “Why did you ask her that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to hear her answer.”

“Butwhy? You know she cannot actually harm us—”

“Of course I do, but now she knows it too.” To me, she says, “And there you have it.Compulsion.I cannot say I expected adifferent answer. However, if I were you”—she turns to resume her stroll down the street, twirling her parasol on her shoulder—“I would keep word of my plans away from Michal, and I would leave my brother alone.”

The second her eyes leave mine, her thrall over me lifts, the delicious warmth vanishes, and my thoughts crash and spiral in confusion. In horror.Because she didn’t—I couldn’t have just told her—

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