Page 63 of Shackled to the World
Sadie was happy to oblige. “If your father got ahold of you, he could mold you into his image.” She turned to Edgar. “He’ll break her until she’s nothing more than a puppet, ready to dance for him whenever he pleases. If he has her, he will have no need of you.” She reached out Edgar pleadingly. When he made no move toward her, she curled her hand into a fist, her arm dropping to her side and a snarl curling her lips. “You know what will happen if he gets control of someone with powers like hers.”
Edgar snorted and shook his head. “If you think I’m stubborn, you haven’t seen anything yet. I’m a pushover compared to her.”
Calculation entered the phantom’s eyes. “You’ll need to challenge Daxion for his rule. It’s the only way if you want to keep each other alive.”
“Stop it, Sadie.” Edgar slashed his hand through the air. “Stop twisting things to get what you want. Neither one of us want to rule.”
Sadie marched up to him and poked him in the chest. “It doesn’t matter what you want. We have to do what’s best for our people, and our people need you.”
“That’s not my life anymore. It hasn’t been for years. You have to let it go.” Edgar pushed her away in disgust.
“Then help me do it.” Sadie trailed after him like a persistent pit bull. “You owe—”
“Stop.” Annora shoved her way between them, forcing Sadie back a step when she tried to get into his face. “He doesn’t owe any of you a damn thing. You tossed him away like trash and didn’t even bother to look for him. When he needed you most, you abandoned him.”
It was all she could do not to haul back her arm and slug the bitch.
Annora turned away, ready to leave her ass behind in the afterworld.
Sadie called out. “What if I help you get your man back?”
Annora stilled.
She didn’t trust Sadie an inch, and certainly not with the safety of her men. If it served her, that bitch would feed them all to the wolves and smile doing it. “You—”
“If she gives her word, she’s honor bound to keep it.” Edgar interrupted, then reached out, snagging her hand and pulling her close. “Though I don’t want her anywhere near you, she might be the key to getting your kitsune out alive.”
“But at what cost?” Annora was torn. As much as she wanted Logan back, she would not sacrifice Edgar to do it. She rested her head against his chest, and he pressed his hand against the back of her neck, pulling her fully against him.
“I won’t let her touch you,” he murmured into her hair.
That was the least of her worries.
“Sadie—”
“You have my word.” She answered promptly, a victorious smile breaking across her face.
“And your promise you’ll do nothing to harm or bring danger to Annora.” Edgar stepped away to glare down at his former friend, nothing but icy disdain in his expression.
Sadie scowled and crossed her arms, looking Annora up and down before giving a defeated sigh. “Agreed.”
A silentfor nowechoed between them.
“I’ll take you with us when we leave in exchange for your help tonight—”
“Agreed,” Sadie snapped, clearly not happy.
“—but I won’t help you get us killed.” Annora marched toward the girl.
Sadie dropped her arms and tensed, clearly longing for her sword. But instead of backing down, she lifted her chin.
“If you harm Edgar, there is nowhere you can run or hide that I won’t find you. Understand?”
Sadie studied Annora, as if testing her resolve, then peered over her head at Edgar, an unreadable expression on her face before she nodded. “Understood.”
Annora retreated to stand near Edgar, slipping her hand around the crook of his elbow. “Ready?”
He gazed down at her, his face softening from the imperial lord expression he normally wore. He reached up, brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”
