Page 134 of Storm of Shadows
I bite my lip and nod.
Am I?
I feel like a traitor. I feel like I’ve betrayed my sister and all for a good looking boy who makes me feel good. I am the worst of the worst.
“You’re not worrying again?”
I shake my head and his finger meanders down my cheek, over my jaw and down my throat.
“You’ll be safer with our collar on. And shit, our collar is going to look so good wrapped around your neck.”
I pull away from his touch. “I’m not wearing a collar. Just because we slept together does not mean–”
He groans and flops back down on the mattress. “Not this bullshit again.”
“It isn’t bullshit,” I say. I don’t want to argue, not now when my skin is still tingling and my core buzzing and I feel … content. Not when the trial is tomorrow and I have more important things to think about.
Then again, maybe this is my opportunity to make him understand my point of view.
He rolls over onto his back. “It is bullshit.”
“Why do we have to label this thing between us as something? Why do we have to label itthat? Can’t we just enjoy each other’s company?”
A wicked smile meanders over his lips. “I really fucking enjoy your company. But this isn’t a negotiation. This doesn’t work unless you are our thrall. All our thrall.”
I tut. “Thorne doesn’t even want me to be his thrall.”
“Not true.” He turns his head to look at me. “I don’t understand. You like it when I touch you. You like it when I make you come. You came here tonight looking for it. And yet … Why are you so against it?”
“I’ve told you.”
He shakes his head. “Those aren’t reasons. You know, I know, the entire damn academy knows, you are better off as our thrall. Even if you hated our very souls you’d be better off as ours. Even if we abused you and treated you badly you’d be better off with us.”
“Because I’m so weak and pathetic I couldn’t possibly look after myself?”
“Correct.”
I scowl at him. “I’m stronger than I look and I’d rather take my chances on my own than belong to someone else.”
“And end up dead.”
Amelia. That plain wooden box.
I look away from him.
“Why are you so against it?” he repeats. “Why really?”
I snap my head back towards him. “Shadow weavers killed my sister!”
Shock spirals across his face, followed quickly by anger. “Who?”
“I … I don’t know. They never told us, but I intend to find out.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet. I think there may be information in the lib–”
“No, how did they kill her?”
