Page 43 of As Darkness Fall
“Stand him up,” I growled, slowly easing up off Lars, keeping the blade close to his throat while Aaron hauled the Alpha to his feet.
The pair of men stared at one another like starving dogs who’d just come across a piece of meat, ready to tear the other to shreds to get what they wanted.
“What do you want for them, Lars?” I snapped, interrupting them.
His vision didn’t waver from Aaron. “I want what you stole from me,” he said. “I want the Idol of Amunlea back.”
From nearby, I heard a choked-off “stole?” from Vir, but I ignored it. Now wasn’t the time to deal with Vir. That could come later.
“A trade, you mean,” I said, addressing Lars instead. “The Idol for my parents.”
“Yes,” Lars said, his voice cold. Hard. Hating. “Quite simple, really. Bring me the Idol, and I give you your parents back. Voila. Nothing to it. Everyone wins, I would say.”
Except I don’t get to kill you, you smug bastard.
But that was worthwhile if it meant getting my parents back. That was the important thing. Lars could have the stupid Idol for all I cared. It wasn’t even like getting it back would be that difficult. Not that Lars knew that, of course, but it just so happened that I knew exactly where the Idol was.
And Vir will gladly pay Aaron more of his treasure for the Idol, I’m sure of it. That will make everyone happy. And I’ll get to see my parents again.
Convincing Vir to let me give the Idol to Lars was a far more difficult prospect, though. I considered that, but also realized that if I had to, I would play the nuclear card if it meant getting back my parents. I didn’t want to, but if Vir wouldn’t budge, then I’d give him the one thing he couldn’t have in exchange for the Idol.
Me.
There were worse people to be Soulbound to. I knew that one from experience.
“Fine,” I spat at Lars, still unhappy I had to deal with him at all.
He started to grin, but I snatched his collar and hauled his neck down to my level, moving like a blur until I held the Blade of Death close enough he could have shaved with it.
“But,” I whispered as threateningly as I could, “if you’re lying, if my parents aren’t here, if you’ve harmed even a hair, then I will personally kill you. With a rusty blade, not the quick death this would grant you. I’ll start by making you a eunuch and starving you until you eat your own nuts. Am I clear?”
Lars’s smile faded, but I could sense he wasn’t actually scared. He didn’t believe I’d follow through on my threat.
“Of course,” he said, then laughed. “Now, go. Fetch me the idol, bitch.”
I backhanded him.
He hit me, the knife flinging free.
Aaron shot him in the foot.
I turned to go after the knife, but Vir’s shout called me off.
“Dani, there are more coming. We have to run!”
Shit.
I glanced back to see more shifters pouring out of the house as Vir and Aaron’s men ran across the patio and onto the lawn.
Two of the enforcers, faster than the others perhaps, started to close in on Aaron’s men. Fred spun, ran backward, and dropped them, needing only three bullets to hit both men. Then, he turned back and ran on.
“Come on,” I hissed at Aaron before running.
Behind us, Lars was laughing maniacally, but no more of his men came after us. Aaron and I passed the bodies of the dead shifters—I’d seen the one get hit in the chest—and eventually caught up with the other group.
Together, we ran for it.
“Don’t forget our deal!” Lars cackled after us. “Bring me the Idol, or I’ll kill your parents.”
