Page 112 of Take No Prisoners
"I never thanked you for healing Klaus."Vadim's voice wasn't the grating intrusion it once was. Now, it felt more like a conversation between friends.
"I did what anyone would have done."
Vadim shook his head and discreetly pointed to Martiz."Not that asshole. That's why I was trying so desperately to heal Klaus myself. I knew Martiz would let him die, given the chance."
"You're going to take his power."
"With pleasure. You were right when you said we need him. We need his power, not his methods. I'll put his healing to good use."
Niall couldn't argue with that.
Finally, they reached the alcove holding the statue. "Niall, you will hold the scale. It takes a spectral weaver to control it."
"You're not coming anywhere near me with that thing." Martiz shoved Niall's grandmother and drew a dagger from his robe. The blade was made of the same stone as the statue, not metal.
"I told you he had it on him," Vadim said.
"I believed you." She righted herself and flipped her hair back over her shoulder. "What a despicable tool. You've been using this all along to steal others' power."
"Toss the scale at him while he's distracted."
Niall didn't see how that would help, but he threw it with all his might at Martiz's chest. Martiz blocked with the arm holding the dagger, and the blade shattered when it connected with the statue. Luckily, Niall had anger to spare. He buoyed the statue on a cushion of air before it hit the ground.
"Look what you've done!" Martiz charged Vadim with his fingers curled into claws.
"It's time to reset the balance of power." Vadim raised his bared hand toward Martiz.
"You wouldn't." Martiz dropped his arms to his sides and took a step back. "You need me."
Vadim closed his fist and lowered it to examine his nails. "I'm not above delivering your rotting corpse to Coryn. It would still gain entrance to the palace, which is all I need."
"Fucking bastard."
Vadim grinned. "I always knew how you really felt about me. You guarded your thoughts around Beatrice, though."
"You're nothing but a little tattletale, running along to tell your auntie, and when that didn't work, Beatrice."
"Leave my aunt out of this." Vadim pointed to the scale, and then Niall. "Let's do this before I change my mind on how valuable his power is."
Niall felt his power surge from him and into the statue as soon as he touched the base. Then, it returned to him when he gripped it with his other hand.
His grandmother took Vadim's hand and placed it on the scale. Then, she wrestled Martiz into position on the opposite side. He screamed as he stuck to the statue when he tried to back away.
Niall felt as though he held the power of the gods in his hands. The object itself seemed to recognize Vadim as the rightful owner of Martiz's power. Healing power flooded through the statue from Martiz to Vadim. The whirlwind lasted far longer than Niall's own transaction with his grandmother. Finally, Martiz's power was drained from him, and a small amount of it remained within the confines of the statue.
His grandmother nudged Vadim's elbow. "Take what's yours."
"You should have it," Vadim said. "Please."
"Fuck's sake, Vadim, I'm an old woman. Let me die in peace."
"If that's what you wanted, you would have consented when I offered."
She scowled at him and extended her hand. He took it, and Niall swore he could hear their conversation in his head.
"Hugo needs you. He'll need someone kind and gentle to guide him. Please. You know I'll never force you to take it, but please, do this for us."
She nodded.
