She lands on her back, gown twisted around her legs. Her face is red, eyes narrowed angrily. Her rage beats against the wall I created, straining to open me back up to the bond. She glowers at me, twisting into a crouched position, ready to lunge at me. “I hate you,” she hisses.
My eyes narrow, and I feel a rush of pain in my chest at her words. "Then you aren't as foolish as I thought," I snarl, pacing towards her.
Briar runs her tongue over her lips, debating attacking. “All this time I thought there was some good in you.” She scowls. “I was wrong.”
“I won’t deny that I told your father I would break you. I won’t even deny trying.” I bark out a mirthless laugh.
Briar's face crumples, and I see a silver glistening in her doll-like eyes. "Already?" She whispers the question.
“Your father betrayed me, Briar. He broke the terms of our agreement.” I lift a tentative hand, as if to stroke her head, but I drop it quickly. “When I saved your mother at your birth, I bargained for the eldest – for Rose. He delivered you instead, but we had already finished the vows when I realized the betrayal."
“Why?” Briar asks breathily. She shakes her head, hands fisted at her sides. “It was Rose you wanted all along?”
“He injured me. I was only returning the favor,” I continue, glowering at the painting over the bed.
“Get out,” Briar whispers.
“But you see, don’t you?” I turn my gaze to her. She kneels on the bed, shoulders slumped. “It was never about you.”
“Get out, you damned demon,” she screeches, rising off of her haunches as if to lunge at me. Her face is contorted with pain.
I step back, brows furrowed with confusion at the enormous pain in her chest. It feels like our hearts are being torn to pieces. I wrestle the bond closed, bolstering my walls against her raw emotions. She sags back onto the bed, shoulders trembling. Her words ring in my head over and over, like the tolling of a bell. Damned demon. I leave her, only letting myself stumble when I’m out of her sight. And when the door closes, and I feel her ragged pain, I clutch at my chest and turn my head to the ceiling. And we wait until the pain subsides.
Chapter 14
Briar
The grains in the boards of the walls are thin and dark. I trace them with my eyes, already aching and swollen from crying. I hate that the truth about Kane hurt me so badly. It hurts me still. But I’m too empty to cry anymore. So, I lay on the bed, still dressed in his finery, and stare at the wall. The only light in the room is the setting sun, and the orange glow is fading quickly. Soon, it will be too dark to look at anything at all. But it won’t matter, we’ll be hunting the Nephilim.
I twist my lips into a frown. If I simply don't join them, will they leave me be and go alone? I pick at the blanket, moving for the first time in hours. Willem and Aiden already have poor opinions of me. Not that I care what they think, I grumble to myself. They already think I'm weak and useless. If I don't go, it will only bring them satisfaction. And the thought of that fills me with anger that soured ages ago.
I push myself up and strip out of the gown and into my trousers and boots. Carelessly, I pull my thick mane of hair into a ponytail, exposing the back of my neck. I stare at myself in the warped mirror above the dresser for an instant. It's not hard to see the sorrow behind my eyes or the slight pull of my lips downward. I look broken. Just like Kane wanted, I think. I bite the inside of my cheek, tears pricking at my eyes. How could he hurt me for something I didn't do? What kind of person would do such a thing?
There’s no time to contemplate questions I haven’t been able to answer since I forced him out of the room. And there’s no time for tears. I take a shaky breath and straighten my shoulders. The dagger at my back gives me solace. I slip out of the room, marking that the hall is empty, and head down the stairs. The smell of opium and tobacco hits me before I’m even halfway. I wrinkle my nose, frowning. When we’re done in this gods-forsaken city and gods-forsaken brothel, I won’t be sad to go.
Downstairs, I see Kane and Willem and Aiden lingering beside the door. Willem's arms are folded over his chest, his fingers tapping impatiently. He glowers at the nearest patrons. I can't bring myself to look at Kane. Aiden spots me first. He grins widely, and I bite the inside of my cheek. With Kane and his cruelty occupying all of my thoughts, I had forgotten the threat that Aiden was hanging over my head. Though I suppose it won't matter much longer. My lips twitch into a smile, a cold one I didn't know I was capable of wearing. I'll kill Kane soon. And then Aiden's threats won't touch me anymore.
“Well, look who decided to join us,” Aiden crows as I approach.
“The sooner we catch this thing, the better,” I say, avoiding Kane’s gaze. From the corner of my eye, I can see him looking at me. “Let’s go, Aiden.”
“I love a woman in charge,” he purrs.
“Wait,” Willem says. His cold voice sends a chill up my spine. “Kane has a strategy, and I don’t believe anyone put you in charge.”
I turn towards Willem, heart hammering. His pale blue eyes cut through me. "I don't give a damn about Kane's strategy," I whisper. Willem's eyes flare, and I hear Kane inhale sharply. But I don't care. Feeling emboldened, I reach for
