Page 38 of November Reign
“Well, I can’t do things for free! They protect me, help me fight, and I help them. Wins all round.”
“Right.”
“Which is why I can’t just take you back for free.”
Ah, there it was, the price. Looking eager for information would look suspicious. Basil wasn’t expecting me to make this easy on him, so I couldn’t throw up red flags by agreeing too soon.
“What’s there to say I want to come back?”
“Of course you do!” He threaded our fingers together in a show of affection. “You’ll lead the coven with me, standing by my side as you’re supposed to be.” His grip tightened. “Together, we’ll make them sorry for kicking you out.”
His voice was dark, threatening violence on everyone he perceived as a threat.
“Tempting, but I’ll pass.” I pried my fingers free.
“Oh, I think you’ll change your mind when you hear the consequences of arguing with me.” He fixed me with those sky-blue eyes, the same shade as Thyme and Damon’s, yet without the warmth either of them had.
The expression had dread pooling in my gut, my insides growing cold. This man was so dangerous. Underestimating him was a mistake.
“What have you done?”
“Do you really think there isn’t a place I can’t reach? Agree to come back to me, or I’ll take more than your sister’s magic this time. Abrocaelum is only a portal away. Have you been there? It’s a beautiful place.”
Fear kept me frozen.
“Ah, I think you understand now.” He paused, letting the moment drag out. “So, do you agree to come home to me?”
There really was no choice. I knew what he would ask. The coven would never trust me again.
“Yes. You have to swear to leave Poppy, Zinna, and Sage alone. They’ve got nothing to do with this!”
“Done,” he agreed easily, like he hadn’t been threatening my family. “Like you say, they aren’t in our way now.” He reached for my face, cupping my chin in his fingers, his grip hardening as he spoke. “Don’t cross me and I won’t hurt them. Understand?”
I tried not to wince. His fingers were likely leaving bruises. “Yes. I have some stuff—“
Basil let go, but not before patting my cheek. “At the hotel you’ve been staying in? You won’t need it. Besides, I have a job for you first.”
“A job?”
“Yes. Come on, let’s take a walk. See if we can lose the ones following you.” He got up and held out a hand to me.
“You saw them?”
He gave me a withering look. “Let’s not play games. They’ve been waiting for me to show up as much as they’ve been keeping tabs on you. I didn’t come alone, of course, so it won’t take long to shake them off.”
“Basil…”
He gave a dramatic, full body shiver. “I love it when you say my name! I’ve really missed you, baby, so I hope you can do this one thing for me.”
We walked outside into the cool November air. There was a bite of frost and people were rushing around, their shoulders hunched against the cold.
Basil didn’t give me time to properly tie my coat, just pulled me along the street where it was quieter.
“What is this?” I demanded, trying to pull free.
“You need to prove your loyalty to me if you want to be by my side.”
“I think you forget you’re blackmailing me to come back to you. I don’t have to do squat.”
