Page 167 of Ink Deep Devotion

Anders snorts.“A mission.”

“Why are my plights different from the ones your daddy used to send you on?” She growls.“My missions are no different. Actually, they are better, so fuck off.”

Anders's throat rumbles in a growl.“Careful.”

“Careful became boring years ago. I prefer straddling death.”

“I’ll give you something to straddle.”

“Yet again,” an exhausted sigh rumbles from her lungs.“Not my type.”

“Who are you helping to escape this time?” I demand to know.

“So you can stop me?”

“If I wanted to stop you, I would have.”

That gets her attention.“I won’t tell you where Mila is.”

“We’ll make you.” Anders steps closer and unbuttons his tux, showing off the hilt of his ax.

“Oh, you’re so predictable, Anders. I know all about you and what you prefer to do to your enemies.” She holds her hands out, examining her nails,“I just got a manicure, so at least when you pull my fingernails off, they will land on the floor looking pretty.” She steps closer to him, chest to chest, tipping her chin so high you think she is taller than him.“Pain doesn’t scare me, and neither does death.”

“What about torture?”

“I’m a woman. We torture ourselves daily. Try brushing out curly hair when it’s knotted and wet. It hurts like a bitch. Try harder to scare me.”

Reaching out, I push Anders back and take his spot.“Your little sister dying scares you. How does it feel to save so many women but not be able to get your hands on your little sister?”

Her pupils dilate for a fraction of a second before her face reddens.

“Your father keeps her tucked away, so very far from you. He didn’t want your behavior to rub off, that, and he knows you’d run with her, shaming her name along with yours and stripping your family of the power The Rites of Passage grants them.”

“Let me guess. I’ll tell you where Mila is, and you’ll tell me where he’s keeping my sister.”

I step back and cross my arms.“I don’t know where he’s keeping your sister, but I will soon.” I grab her arm and lower my lips to her ear.“Your dad’s been stressed lately. That’s because someone has been killing off the council members.”

“How do you—”

“How do I know he’s a council member?” I grin.“I know a lot of things. Right now, Leo, my brother, is proposing an engagement to your father.”

“I’ll never—”

I tug her closer.“Not for you, but your sister.” Her heart just plummeted. I felt it hit the tip of my shoes. “Your father will agree, and he will take your sister out of hiding so Leo can meet her. Then he will kill you. He won’t need you to keep his power because your sister will marry a ruler. It’s a step up.” I smirk.“Your days are ticking away so fast. Blink, and you might miss your final breath.”

Her jaw grinds.

“If you play by my rules, I’ll give your sister to you.” All her walls and bitchy attitude turn into a thin veil that I can see through. She’s considering it, betraying not just Mila but all the girls she has helped, all for the single trade of her little sister. It’s the definition of love’s weakness, comparing one life to dozens.

“You will let my sister and me go?”

“No.” I laugh. Life isn’t easy. Strings bind us.“You will take her place. Your father isn’t stupid. He will want a contract signed. Mila’s father wants Mila back, too; he will make a clause in the marriage contract stating that on the wedding day, Leo can choosewhichsister he wants. He will bury it in the writing. Your father is a lazy man. He won’t bother reading the contract, anyway. Leo will pick you, and your little sister will have freedom. We all win. The end. It’s this, or your father pawns her off to someone else. Someone who won’t keep her safe like you and Leo can.”

Her throat rolls, and the swallow gets stuck, causing her to cough.“Leo’s handsome,” I add.

“Fuck you.”

“I’m married. You can have Leo to fuck.”

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