Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“How is this not as bad as what Myrddin did? He didn’t tell me what the blood would do to me either,” she argued.
I was done. “Take it. Don’t take it. You are making me not care, and I hate that.”
“It’s easy for you to say. You always have someone who’ll fight for you. Poor Kelsey.”
I wasn’t about to take that. “Get out. I’m done with this. If you want me to be done with you, that’s how it will be. I’m about to lose my husband again, so babying you isn’t my priority. When this is done, we’ll go back to the Earth plane, and you can spend your time in a cell. And before you call me a bitch, it’s exactly what you were planning for me except Myrddin would have killed me. He’s the one who sent me off plane. He would have taken Gladys and then slit my throat, and guess what, sister, it would have been okay because you can’t feel anything. The whole world can burn because Olivia Carey isn’t strong enough to fight.”
She’d paled, but I didn’t care in that moment.
I walked into the closet and saw the monstrosity of a gown Tix had left me. It had petticoats or something.
Not happening.
“I did, I think. Fight, that is.”
I closed my eyes in frustration because Liv didn’t seem to be done with me. “It doesn’t matter now. I’ll let you go if that’s what you want.”
“It’s hard to remember because I think so much of what I remember is false,” she said quietly. “But I know I tried to save Sarah Day. I had a way out, but she needed it. He was going to take Mia.”
I had seen what she did that day. “I know.”
“And then I was alone, and they put me in the camp. I think they hurt me there.”
“I’m sorry, Liv. I wish you hadn’t gone through it.”
“It wouldn’t have broken you,” she whispered. “I think that’s what kills me. You would have fought and won, and I’m the sidekick.”
“You were never the sidekick. You were my hero, Liv. You were the hero of a lot of us. We loved you.” I felt something stir in my chest, an odd fluttering. I put my hand there, right over my heart. How could she even think that? She’d always been important to me. She’d been the sister I needed so desperately.
She looked a bit haunted standing there in the doorway of the closet. Although the closet here was larger than her dorm room where we’d sat and talked most nights in college. We’d come such a long way, and I hated how distant we were now.
“I think he took it,” Liv said. “My soul. I get flashes of what might have happened at the ceremony, but I don’t know if they’re real or not. I remember being so proud. And then I remember being terrified. Is it surprising which one I prefer?”
It wasn’t surprising, but she had to face the truth. “It’s a choice you’re making. You might not have made the choice to become Myrddin’s enforcer, but you have free will here and now. I know you hate that collar and the blood you’ve been taking, but both have worked to put you in a place where you’re not under his influence. You can choose.”
“I’m under your influence instead,” she accused with a stubbornness I’d never seen in her before.
I shook my head. “As far as I can tell, I have no influence at all. None of this is helpful. I don’t want to fight anymore. Not before I have to go into the lion’s den.”
She seemed to come to some decision. She walked over to the rack of clothes on my left and pulled down a black cocktail dress. “It’s got a big enough skirt you can fight in it if you have to, but it’s elegant enough to convince Lucifer you’re taking the dinner seriously. And it goes well with the necklace. Wear the Givenchy heels. They’re comfortable and more flexible than anything else here.”
She turned and started to leave.
“Thank you,” I said, holding the dress. I wouldn’t have looked at it. I would have tried to wear slacks. She was right about the shoes, too.
She stopped, not turning. “I’ll think about what you said. I worry, though. I don’t think you can find my soul. If you can’t, then you should have Sasha put me down. He’ll do it. Donovan won’t be able to handle the blood on his hands, but Sasha won’t hesitate. He didn’t know me before, so he’s the perfect one to do it. Don’t wait too long. A week or two to ease your conscience, and then…”
My heart caught in my chest. “I don’t…”
“You’re right. I died a long time ago. It will be a relief to everyone,” she said, not turning my way.