Page 43 of Her Dark Promise

“And if I asked you to kill yourself for her, would you?”

I raised my hand without looking at the boy, indicating to Callum that I wanted his blade. He handed it to me, and I presented it to Soren. Without hesitation, Soren grabbed the blade and brought it up to his neck. Bastian was screaming behind him, a stream of incoherent sentences.

“As you wish.” He sat there waiting for me to give him a signal to do it, but I just sat there contemplating.

What are you going to do, Callie?

What was I going to do? I focused on the facts.

This boy was innocent, more than innocent. He was going to sacrifice himself to save his sister. That was something that I could empathize with. It was almost comical that any of this was happening. Here were Joséphine’s older brothers ready to give up their lives to protect her. What a lucky girl. If either brother had left well enough alone, their sister would have been sparedregardless. Though they didn’t need to know any of those details, not when I had them in my clutches.

I was wet just seeing Soren on his knees, so willing to do as he was told. A good boy. I loved a good fight, but there was something about a man giving himself fully over to me. That was why Callum and I had such a fun time together. Could I handle the two of them?

“There is no need to kill yourself when I think you would be of more use to me alive.” I sat back. “You came here for me? Fine. I will save her life for yours. You have my word.”

I could see his throat bob. I had him. And so did Bastian.

He yelled, “Do not listen to her, Soren! She will do anything to keep you here!”

“I wasn’t talking to you. Actually,” I waved my hand and unbound him. I smirked at the stunned expression on his face, speechless for once. “I set you free.”

Bastian stood on shaky legs. His strength still had not returned fully.

I clapped my hands together and said gleefully, “What fun we are going to have.”

Soren swallowed, not completely understanding what he happily walked himself into.

I flicked my finger at the door, flinging it open. “Get out,” I said, still staring at Soren.

“I am staying.” Bastian was stubborn as a bull.

“I don’t remember offering that option to you,” I teased. “You and I both know what our arrangement is.”

“I am your slave in exchange for Joséphine’s protection.”

“Actually, the deal was that you would do whatever I said and I am telling you to leave.”

Bastian wasn’t backing down.

“Then why offer this to me?” Soren questioned.

I slid my eyes to Bastian and gave him a sly smile as he answered, “Because she wants me and she knows that I would never leave you alone with her.”

I didn’t deny it.

“She loves her games.” Bastian stood on shaky legs and walked over to us. “You think you are so smart. That you are the only one who sees everything, but you’re not. I see how much you enjoy it when I defy you. How much it turns you on when I threaten to kill you,” Bastian seethed.

I narrowed my eyes. Maybe he was smarter than I gave him credit for. He scoffed and looked down at his brother. “I will be home soon. It won’t take long for me to find a way to kill her.”

I looked over at Bastian. “If I wanted to play games, I would have asked if you wanted to make a wager. Then I would have asked how long you think it would take until your little brother’s heart gave out from lack of oxygen.”

I shot my shadows toward Soren’s throat, wrapped around it, and squeezed lightly as his eyes widened. He was too stunned to move and while inflicting pain on others always brought an immeasurable amount of joy to me, this felt wrong. I felt nothing but disgust for harming an innocent, but I was quickly learning that they were the same. They would do anything to protect the ones closest to them. Predictable. I just needed to hold out a little bit longer until…

“Let him go!” Bastian roared.

He took a step forward, ready to charge me, knowing full well that he was outmatched.

I let go of my grip on Soren as he crumpled to the ground and stared up at me. He looked up at me with not a trace of anger in him. No, that look in his eyes was awe. I ignored him as I looked back at Bastian.

---