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He gives his head a sharp shake. “I can’t risk my face not growing back the same way. I’m nothing without these looks.”

I curl my lip at him, as if I don’t find him devastatingly handsome at the most inappropriate times.

“Now, luv, your disobedience has caused me to reconsider my proposition. Perhaps I will no longer open it up for your input but will force it upon you. I know you don’t like that, you’ve had it with being told what to do, how to act, what to say, haven’t you?”

I go still, just enough that he loosens his grip on my neck. “I’m listening,” I tell him warily.

He gives me a stiff smile, though his other hand still grips the chain. “We need each other, luv, whether we like it or not. I have a feeling I like needing you more than you like needing me.”

“I don’t need you for anything.”

He fixes me with a calm look. “You need me for my protection at the very least. Protection from this cursed crew who will gladly turn you into your sister, protection from the Brethren who will gladly put you in the hold with the dead bodies of your former servants, and protection from Nerissa, who is a sea witch and can’t be trusted, especially not if she finds out what you really are. All that’s stopping you from being torn apart is one word of truth:mermaid.”

I bristle at that. “You would never throw me to them.”

His gaze goes cold, a wash of ice I feel along my spine. “Don’t tell me what I would or wouldn’t do,” he says, his voice acidic. “You have no idea what I’m capable of when it comes to revenge. I will gladly sacrifice you in order to get what I want.”

“And I will do the same to you,” I retort, my steely tone matching his.

“You seem to believe you’re in a position of power. You are not.”

My teeth snap together and I grow silent and frustrated.

“Now, what I need from you, I think you already know,” he goes on with a faint sigh. “I need your blood. I told you I wouldn’t kill you for it and I mean it.”

“But you’ll gladly sacrifice me,” I throw back at him, imitating his deep voice.

His mouth twitches in amusement. “Killing you and sacrificing you are two different things. But I’m not here to argue over semantics. I won’t kill you, I’ll barely even hurt you. You might even like it. Some people do. But I will feed from you, just a little bit every day, to build up my reserves.”

“I think not,” I grumble.

“In exchange,” he adds, raising his voice, “I will keep you and your secret safe.”

“You said that that no one could hurt me if you claimed me,” I point out, wishing he would let go of my neck.

“I can easily remove the brand,” he says coldly. “Painful thing to go through. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

The thought of him scraping my scarred flesh off in that still tender area makes me feel queasy.

“How about you think about it,” he suggests. Then, before I know what’s happening, he shoves the chain back in my mouth.

I scream and thrash but to no avail. He fastens it around my head and gets to his feet. “I’ll come back for your answer tomorrow. Maybe you’ll behave yourself better then.”

CHAPTER25

Ramsay

I’m havingthe nightmare again. It’s happening as if I’m in the past and I’m awake and of sound mind.

The sea is dead calm. Not a cloud in the sky, not a hint of breeze. It’s stifling and hot and nothing feels right. I’m about to say this to Sam when I hear that first thump.

TheNightwindshakes. The crew is thrown around.

My gaze goes to the side of the deck where I know Hilla will be standing with that smear of chocolate on her face.

But she’s not there.

Instead it’s Maren.