Page 56 of Dance with Death

Vigo tilts his head. “Are you so concerned now with Anya’s survival? You were rather flippant about her well-being when you sold her to me.”

“The contract you signed with me is anything but flippant. Perhaps you need to review the well-being clause you agreed to.”

Vigo shrugs and I stare up at him, wondering what the hell Nikolai could be talking about.

Well-being?

Since when has my well-being been of anyone’s concern?

I suppose I can’t deny that Nikolai did provide far more toward my care than Vigo has ever attempted to do. That didn’t mean he cared about my life now. Nikolai was the one who sold me to such a neglectful and despicable master as Vigo. In many ways, that makes him worse—Nikolai chose this for me.

My eyes turn to him, shooting icy cold daggers straight from my soul.

“I urge you to consider the importance of being a man of your word, Vigo. You know how the board will lean on such matters. Lovely catching up with you.” Nikolai smiles as charming as the devil himself, then he nods to me,acknowledgesme. “Anya.”

I suck in a sharp breath at the way his eyes cast an appraising glance over my body. He’s glanced a million times before, but this glance is filled with disappointment, anguish, perhaps even…regret? He snaps for Ezra to follow as he turns to walk away.

There’s a moment, only a brief, tragic moment, where Ezra meets my eyes before he’s forced to move. In that moment, we speak silently, hurriedly through looks and electric sparks which only exist between the two of us.

I love you.

I miss you.

I need you.

I’m going to save you.

The last message is from his eyes to mine and it meets me with such ferocity and truth that it almost feels as though he can save me.

I can’t control myself and I speak without thinking. “Mine?”

Ezra rushes toward me. It’s stupid for me not to, but I can’t seem to fight the pull. I drag myself from Vigo’s grip as Ezra’s hand latches around my wrist, tugging me into the warmth of his embrace.

We wrap our arms around each other for no more than a moment, but it’s the most fulfilling moment of my life.

“Yours. Always yours,” he whispers just before Vigo and Nikolai rip us apart.

Ezra turns with Nikolai’s rough hands on his shoulders, guiding him away. Looking back at me, he grants me a small smile. That small smile lights me on fire. I have to fight every part of my body to remain in place rather than run after him again. We’ve already tested our luck and it failed us.

When Vigo commands me away, I’m forced to tear my attention from Ezra. It’s painful, forceful, like being ripped from orbit. I feel colder with each step he takes, only just realizing how cold I have been for the past three months without him.

Ezra has always been my sunshine. My life may cease to exist without his warmth. Itdoesn’texist without his warmth. I’ve been brutally reminded of everything I need, and its everything I can never have.

The hollow spot inside me will never be filled.

Another hour or so passes as we wander listlessly about the space. I tail behind Vigo as he engages in small talk with other members of the four families. My eyes are vigilant, constantly searching the room for Ezra, but I don’t see him or Nikolai again in the ballroom.

Vigo doesn’t seem to care when I lag behind a few paces, giving myself a small reprieve from the overwhelming pulse of his evil aura. Perhaps he does care, perhaps he intends to punish me later for trailing behind, though I can’t bring myself to care.

What worse could he possibly do to me?

Give me death?

A reprieve from the pain of existence?

I’m within his periphery. It’s not as though I could escape the home unnoticed. Even so, I know from years of experience that the exits are closely guarded for that very reason. Still, it doesn’t stop me from contemplating an escape plan.

I could sneak up to the second floor.

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