Page 88 of Venomous Lies
A bitter cold wrapped around me, and at first relief hit. Maybe Bones was here? But then that sensation somehow became even colder, burning me, and I looked up to find none other than Thatcher’s henchman grabbing me.
“Don’t fight it,” he murmured, his light eyes bright in the darkness. A predator in all senses of the word, it was clear that he wasn’t hindered like I was. “You won’t win against me.”
“I have people that are looking for me,” I shot back fiercely, attempting to hit him with my free hand instead of heeding his warning. He caught it easily enough, and a hint of humor broke through his blank gaze. “You’ll be sorry.”
“Sorry? Darling, there are very few things I’ve ever truly been sorry about, and you don’t mean enough to me to inspire any regret.” His cool voice dripped with amusement.
“Let me go, please. Kaz,” I whispered, begging as he twisted my arm and held me tight against his chest.
“Why would I do a thing like that?” he crooned against my face, his nose brushing against my cheek. “And mighty courageous of you to call me by a nickname when we’ve just met.”
“I could help you,” I offered.
‘How the fuck are you going to do that?’Cas asked, his voice strained with anxiety.
‘I’ve got to try something!’
‘He attacked you, and you’re offering tohelphim! How does that make sense?’
“Help me?Youhelpme?” He laughed cruelly, the sound making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The darkness somehow felt like it was getting deeper, more ominous, as he began to growl in my ear. “What could you possibly offer me,witch,that would tempt me?”
“What do you want?” I asked, my question ending in a cry when he bit down on my neck.
“What you can’t give me.Freedom.From him, this place. There’s nothing you have to offer that I would want.”
“What if I could give you freedom?”
He pulled back, and even in the darkness, I could read the incredulity in his eyes. I couldn’t blame him one bit since I was offering something I had no way to give him. But my need to survive had overridden my caution.
‘You’re an idiot.’
Chapter 27
Kazimir
SATURDAY
“Freedom?” I laughed darkly at her attempt to sway me to her side. “How can you give me something you don’t even have yourself?”
Hazel and amber eyes stared up at me, scared but resolute. I’d been determined once, optimistic even, but in this particular fae deal, I had been outplayed.
“You don’t even know what I’m talking about,” I scoffed. “You have no idea what’s even going on, yet you try to offermefreedom? How naive.”
“Then tell me! Tell me what’s going on.”
I was studying her, trying to decide what I was going to do, when Thatcher began cursing in the darkness outside of my reach.
That necromancer was the bane of my existence. I dreamed of his demise so often it had become a game. How many ways could I torture him, break him before I finally let him die?
Would I let him die?
That seemed so boring… And I’d spent too much time imagining all the ways I wanted him to suffer to have it end so soon.
“Kaz.” I looked down at this witch who talked to me so casually, so boldly, and despite myself, I felt drawn to her.
She was haunting.
Her voice was a warning and promise all wrapped up into one.
