Page 57 of All the Devils are Here

“Figure out how to separate Meg from the magic and free us,” Ban said. “So I can rip his head off.”

Laurent huffed out a breath. “You’ll have to get in line.”

“Can I ask why you haven’t killed him before now?” I asked. “None of you seem to like him.”

“It’s complicated,” Trin said. “But he controls us both because he created us, and because he controls our hearts. Because of his connection to that power combined with our creation? It’s a recipe for control. Not to mention he put many of the spells in place before we knew better. Only K—Laurent. Sorry, that’s going to take some getting used to—doesn’t have the bond anymore. Because we planned it. We stole his heart from Prospero and gave it back, getting him off the island.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure I understand. It’s a lot to wrap my head around.”

Laurent met my eyes. “He used borrowed magic to create me. Because it was so much power, it essentially took his life. Before, he was still alive and human enough to leave, but now he’s a part of this place. If he goes too far from the island, he’ll die, because the island’s magic is what is sustaining him.”

Ariel sighed. “Your question earlier, Laurent. About why now? He got the idea that killing you will somehow release the magic he borrows to create you, so he can return it and become human once more.”

“Seriously?” Laurent shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”

“He knows it too,” Trin chuckled. “But at this point, I think he’s beyond caring.”

“No kidding,” Ariel said. “There’s no logic left in him.”

I thought about it. “If he wants to give magic back to the Island, is that why he’s getting paid in magic?”

All four of them looked at me, and Ban sat up. “What do you mean?”

“There was a woman in the cage with me. He was there when the magic dropped me in. But she was like… catatonic. He sent her through a portal, and when whoever was on the other side gave him payment, he lit up so brightly I could see his skeleton. I assumed it was magic. He said the woman’s name was Myranda.”

Laurent looked just as confused as I was, but the others looked angry. “He’s always had projects,” Ariel said. “He keeps us away from them. Doesn’t tell us they’re here, where he gets them, or where they go. And usually we’re commanded so far away we can’t help.”

Again, the way he controlled them.

I looked at Ban’s chest, and I saw what I hadn’t before—because I hadn’t been looking. A long, thin line over the left side of his chest. Trin, too, had a pale, faded scar.

“He has your hearts,” I said. “Literally.”

What they’d told me before the magic stole me was finally clicking into place.

“You were made to free him, but everything backfired. Now he still controls the three of you because of the hearts, and Laurent is free.”

“Yes,” Ariel said. The single, painful word was through gritted teeth. “We’re not bound to the island the way he is, but it does have power over us. And as long as he has them, we belong to him. Which is why I’m so grateful you’re my mate and I cannot harm you anymore.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“My heart?” Ban said. “Yes. But we can’t get to it.”

Trin came over and sat on my other side. Ariel didn’t blink when he tugged me away and tucked me in next to him, taking a turn.

“They are in the island’s heart, and have been since he made the offering,” Trin said. “The reason we can’t get to them is not only because the magic will rip anyone apart but Prospero—because he’s more magic than man now—and Ariel, who’s been ordered not to.”

“But—”

“Things were different,” Laurent answered my question before I asked it. “Prospero was much more trusting, because we’d never defied him and had never thought to. He didn’t imagine hiscreationswould ever turn on him. And we hadn’t truly thought about it because we didn’t know better. Ariel was not burdened the way he is now, and it was easier. Though they paid the price for my freedom.”

I finished the cup of tea, and the mug in my hands evaporated into mist before I could even move to put it down. That was convenient. At least there was no need to do dishes.

“What made you change your mind? About rebelling?”

“You don’t need to hear about that,” Laurent said, his tone final.

He might not tell me right now, but I would know eventually. He already admitted to murder, so I didn’t imagine what would have made him realize the truth was all sunshine and roses. But at the moment it was irrelevant.

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