Page 104 of Shackled to the World
Annora burst out laughing, startling him so much he dropped his hand and backed up with a glower. Any fear burned away under the rage that he would dare threaten her. Darkness licked under her skin, craving violence. Black wisps of smoke curled around her, the afterworld seeping into the human realm. “Send your soldiers. I’m not so easily killed. Harm my men, and I’ll make it my life’s mission to make sure you never get the coin or me.”
Darkness wove between her fingers, eager for the taste of vengeance. Daxion studied the way the darkness obeyed her, narrowing his eyes when more fog seeped into the room, swirling protectively around the guys like a pack of eager hounds ready to rip apart anyone who ventured too close.
The guys were hers to protect, and no one was allowed to touch them.
Instead of fear, Daxion turned calculating eyes toward her. His smug attitude pissed her off, as if she was already under his control, her submission a forgone conclusion, and her control snapped. “You want to control the living and the dead? You want your reapers? Why don’t we call them now and let them drag each and every one of your soldiers into the dead zone you so fear. You won’t even see them coming.”
The coin burned cold against her chest, keeping her from falling completely into the darkness of the afterworld. She stalked toward Daxion, ignoring the way Edgar followed hard on her heels. She glared up at the man who was supposed to be her father. “Checkmate, Father dearest.”
* * *
Edgar wanted to snatch Annora away from Daxion, hating that she stood so close to the vile man who saw her as nothing but an obstacle to getting what he wanted. She couldn’t know how very dangerous and underhanded he really was—the lengths he would go to achieve his goals.
He saw the other men exchange glances, silently communicating with each other, preparing to move at the first hint of danger. Though they didn’t know Daxion well, shifters could sense his evil.
By prior agreement, they were to remain silent and vigilant and wait for his signal before taking action. They protested until he reminded them that if they put themselves in harm’s way, Annora would throw herself into danger to protect them.
If anything happened, they would keep Annora safe.
He made them promise before he agreed to bring them inside.
If anything were to go wrong, he would use his power to lock Daxion inside the shields, giving the guys a few precious minutes to kill him before reinforcements could arrive.
If they didn’t all die first.
When he glanced at Annora, he couldn’t see an ounce of fear in her. She would battle the world to keep them safe, but Edgar was very much afraid it would get her killed.
Losing her would destroy him.
He couldn’t allow that to happen.
“A compromise.” Edgar lowered his sword and turned toward Daxion. “I’ll hunt down your wife if you vow to leave Annora alone.”
Daxion’s smile slowly curled his lips, a malicious gleam making his dark eyes shimmer.
“Wait a fucking minute.” Annora slammed her palm against Edgar’s chest, managing to shove him back with the power of the afterworld still clinging to her. “No deal. The instant you step into the dead zone, they’ll rip you apart. I won’t send you there.”
Edgar gently ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, not allowing himself to indulge himself the way he wanted. “No need. I can enter the dead zone through the afterworld without your help.”
Annora flinched as if he’d struck her, confusion flavoring her words. “But…only the dead can get into the dead zone.”
She blinked up at him, her mind rejecting the truth for a heartbeat longer, when anger suddenly darkened her face, and she slammed her palms against his chest and shoved. “Fuck you! If you think I’m just going to let you go without a fight, you’re more of an idiot than I thought. Do you honestly believe sacrificing yourself will keep me safe? As soon as you complete your end of the bargain, he’ll send his soldiers after us. He won’t even have to lift a finger himself. He’ll always find a loophole and weasel out of any bargain you make.”
Edgar gritted his teeth, biting back the urge to curse.
Because she was fucking right.
He studied her beautiful face and his determination to protect her hardened. “But I’m not wrong. We need a compromise, something to keep him from coming after you.”
Some of the fire in her eyes banked, the sharp edges of her fear easing, and she nodded up at him. “He’ll honor his promise?”
Edgar glanced over her head and faced the man who had practically raised him. For so long he'd believed the man was a god. He’d been a fool. He pulled Annora close, his racing heartbeat only slowing when she was tucked safely against his chest. “Yes, he’ll honor his vow or he’ll risk losing his standing in the phantom realm. He cares about that more than anything else.”
He was gratified to see Daxion glare at him in fury.
At least some things haven’t changed.
“You will publicly claim Annora as your daughter.”
