Page 92 of Quicksilver

“It makes meuncomfortable.” I kept my voice low, even though I shouldn't have. It was impolite to conduct a murmured conversation like this at the dinner table, but Ren and Carrion were busy talking away, and it turned out I had plenty I wanted to say to Fisher. “You compelled me with the oath again,” I said through gritted teeth.

“I did,” he agreed.

“You shouldn't have.”

“Why not?”

“I can't believe I actually have to say this out loud,” I hissed. “You shouldn't do it because it'swrong. You can't go around forcing people to do things they don't want to do.”

At last, Fisher ate the cheese he'd been holding. “You can if they enter into a blood oath that puts them at your mercy.”

Ren's expression darkened at this, but he carried on talking to Carrion.

“Do you have no conscience whatsoever? Are you just evil? Is that it?”

The corner of Fisher's mouth kicked up. Leaning forward, he took my plate and started filling it up with various items from the platters and dishes the sprites had brought in. He hovered over a tray of charred meat, trying to decide if he ought to plate me some of that, but then seemed to decide against it. When he was satisfied with what he'd prepared for me, he put the food in front of me and leaned back in his chair. The tattoos at his throat shifted as he swallowed. The intricate designs on the backs of his hands, cuffing his wrists and disappearing up his sleeves, writhed like smoke.

“Eat something from that plate, and I'll answer your question,” his voice rumbled into my ear.

A sour smile twisted across my face. “Bribery?”

He splayed his hands wide. “Whatever works.”

I scowled.

“Do you wantmeto feed you?” He looked like he'd do it.

“All right. Fine.” I picked up the fork and scooped some mashed potatoes onto it, shoving it into my mouth. The explosion of butter, rich cream, and chives made my mouth ache as I swallowed the food down, trying not to openly melt at how delicious it was. “There. Happy now?”

Fisher sat forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes glittering. “I'm not evil, no.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“If I was evil, I'd have used your oath to my advantage by now.”

“You have,” I spat.

“Have I?” He looked genuinely curious.

“Yes!”

“I've compelled you three times. All three times, I think you'll find it was for your own good.”

“That’s a horrible excuse! You—”

“If I were evil and using your oath for my own purposes, I'd order you onto your knees for me,” he said, cutting me off. “I'd order you to part your legs for me. I'd order you to suck and fuck me until you passed out from exhaustion. Isthatwhat you want, Little Osha?”

Heat detonated in my chest. An inferno, raging inside me, eating up all of the oxygen in my lungs. My hand shook, my cheeks turning crimson as I used the edge of my fork to cut into the small meat pie he'd put on my plate. “Of course not. Why would I want that?” I rasped.

He nodded to the piece of pie on my fork.“Eat.”

My anger was eatingme, but I raised the fork to my mouth and did it.

“If I compelled you to do it, you'd be innocent. Your actions wouldn’t be your fault. You wouldn't have to face the fact that youwantedme.”

“Just stop, Fisher.”

“And I'd prove what a vile monster I was, wouldn't I? How vindicating for you. To get exactly what your body is calling out for while also being proven right.”