Page 278 of Entangled

Some of the men stay still and silent. .. but a good many of them don’t. More shouts join in, angrier and hotter with every new voice, and I realize that in my distress, I’ve said the wrong, wrong thing.

But thiswasthe deal. This was the whole point of getting Sam out of the way. Anew vision, Alastair said. Does this mean heisn’tfreeing them?

How is he any better than Sam?

Alastair stares at me, and I see his mind working, gauging the pressure in the room like a barometer. I see the moment he makes a decision.

He smiles, small and sharp. “Settle.”

The word is soft, and the measured pause after it even softer. The shouts stutter to a halt to listen.

“Of course the women and children stay here. She’s going to ask for our food and medicine again next, I imagine. It must be hard to see, watching your betters have everything.” Alastair raises one brow at me, and it’s like a slap. “But if I’m meant totrustmy ally, then they should show proper respect and not ask for more than was promised.”

Loathing and dread swarm me. I hate him. I hate him for the way Dom’s breathing has become ragged. I hate him for the way Heather is glaring at me with furious tears. Alastairdidpromise to free the women and children. I trusted that. It was the only reason I saved him.

This is not something I can let go.

“You promised they’d be safe,” I say, just as quietly as him.

His eyes narrow on me, but I hold his gaze, prickling with fear. There’s too many of them, and they need us. I’ve done so many things wrong, but this has to be one that I got right, or else what was the point?

Finally, he says, “We aren’t Sam. We take care of our people. Don’t we, men?”

There’s another roar of approval that I don’t trust at all.

When I don’t back down, a muscle in his jaw flexes and we stand off against one another.

His voice lowers even further. “I will keep them safe, Eden. I’m keeping my promises. This time, you should do the same.”

The Sinners continue to scoff and jeer around us, and my dread overtakes the anger. The stench of death is thick in the air, and I’m suddenly very worried we’re going to be adding to it.

It’s as much of a concession as I think I’ll get.

I bow my head and force more lies over my tongue. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked again. I know you said no. Thank you for dealing with Sam. We’re very...” I falter, and another tear slips down my cheek. “We’re very grateful. We can leave now. We’ll leave and we won’t come back, I promise.”

“I don’t know that I trust you to keep that promise.” Alastair’s voice has a bite to it, and I wince, taking the hit.

I already promised him we wouldn’t come to Cyanide.

“I think my men are right, Eden. We may be allies, but you need to learn your place. The Sinners own this land. We might want a different kind of rule than Sam, but that fact still holds true. We allow you to live in our territory by our grace.” Alastair’s eyes shimmer like snake scales, pale and bright against his dark, dark lashes. “Your medieval society has inspired me—consider me the new lord of Bristlebrook and Red Zone. In exchange for your ongoing safety, you all can offer me a yearly tithe in gratitude. I’ll send a messenger about what I need.”

That’s not good, but it could be worse. It even seems... mild.

“Is... is that all?” I ask.

Part of me hopes that Dom will speak up now and take control. I’ve done my part. I saved Alastair’s life, and he killed Sam, for all that matters. The women and children are still captive. We have no food for our starving people, or medical supplies for Red Zone. I’ve betrayed the woman who saved my life and somehow became one of my closest friends. I’ve broken the confidence of a good leader, and the trust of all my men.

But the civilians at Bristlebrook are safe, and we might just leave here alive.

Alastair looks almost amused for a moment. “I think we’ll take some collateral before you leave, just to assure myself of your loyalty—two guests, I think, one from Red Zone and one from Bristlebrook. As long as nothing happens to us... nothing will happen to them.”

Of course. There had to be new depths for my shame to spiral to. But at least I know what I have to do now. Some small measure of penance.

I nod.

“I’ll stay with you, then,” I say huskily. “Take me as collateral.”

“The hell you will,” Lucky shouts behind me, almost a snarl.

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