Page 451 of Shadowblood Souls
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Zian insists. “We’re not stupid.”
“I don’t see how I have any guarantees ofyourgood faith.”
I slip my hands from the guys’ grasp to take a determined step toward the screen. “Why are you trying so hard not to give us what you promised? If we can’t give your people directions to find your prize, then it’s not as if you can’t knock Dom out—or worse—all over again. Do you thinkwecould possibly not realize that, after everything you’ve already done? That we’d risk losing him right after we’ve gotten him back?”
Balthazar studies me through the screen with an unreadable expression that sends alarm clanging through my nerves. “I could simply start cutting down your remaining companions until you cough up the information.”
I hold myself steady against the hitch of my pulse, my glower sharpening into a glare. “Try me. If you do that, then we know you’re never going to be good to your word. There’s no point in us giving you anything if we’re all going to end up as worm food before long anyway.”
A few days ago, I’d have meant those words whole-heartedly. Now, with the promise of Dominic’s restoration dangling over me and the warmth of affection soothing the worse of my hopeless anger, the idea of giving up sends an ache through every part of my body.
But what I said is true regardless. I want to live and love however I can.
If Ican’t, if this man is going to make it impossible, then it would be better to die on our own terms.
My skin continues to creep under our captor’s intense attention, but I don’t break from his gaze. After another moment, the corners of his lips lift—is that the start of asmile?
It remains so subtle and vanishes so quickly I’m not sure if I only imagined it. He reaches toward something out of view on his desk. “You are a force to be reckoned with, aren’t you, Riva? Let’s see if we can’t come out of this deal with both of us satisfied rather than disappointed.”
My spirits lift. Does he really mean…?
I don’t quite believe it until two figures hustle into the room: a plump woman and her scrawny male assistant who walk straight past us to Dominic’s bed. They don’t even bother to look at us.
As the woman unlocks the case over Dominic’s limp body, Zian moves as if to barge over. I catch his arm, just for long enough to stop him before yanking my fingers away.
When he glances at me, I shake my head. We can’t risk interfering with anything they’re doing.
Iwantthem to give Dom their full concentration.
After lifting the case, the woman adjusts several controls on the machines while her assistant prepares a couple of syringes. My stomach knots at the sight of the vicious needles, but I hold my own defensive urges in check too.
We made our bargain. Now we have to give it a chance to be fulfilled.
The woman takes one syringe, injects it into Dominic’s neck, and monitors the display on the machines for an endless minute before holding her hand out for the second needle. This one, she applies to his wrist.
The machine’s beeping has slowly eased back to its normal pace. Gingerly, the woman removes the tubes and wires that encircled Dominic’s form, and then shuts off the machines completely.
She gives us one brief look. “Give him a few more minutes.”
Then the two of them sweep out of the room so quickly that in a matter of seconds it’s as if they were never here.
All five of us venture closer to Dominic’s bed. His breath is coming in what looks like a more regular rhythm now.
But his eyes remain closed, his expression slack.
What if it doesn’t work? What if Balthazar miscalculated, and Dom was too far gone already?
Even as a pang of fear reverberates through my chest, Dominic’s eyelashes twitch. I’m just sucking in a gasp when his eyelids lift.
He blinks a few times, staring up at the ceiling. A flinch runs through his frame that isn’t provoked by anything I can see—maybe a memory flashing through his mind.
I can’t bear to hang back any longer. I dart forward to rest a tentative hand on his arm, leaning over him.
Dom stares up at me. His lips part, and for a stutter of my heart, I think he’s going to knit his brow in confusion.
“Riva?” he croaks.
My face splits with the widest smile I’ve ever made. I tip farther to hug him, just as carefully as my initial touch. “How do you feel? You’ve been… out for a long time.”
