Page 171 of Reckoning

Her lips quirk. “Is that so?”

For a second I contemplate lying, changing the subject, but then, if we’re to do this, if we’re going to make this work, she has to be in this too. That’s what the Brethren is. It’s not a one foot in, one foot out. If I join, then Sofia becomes a part of this.

“I met someone.” I say.

She freezes, frowning, like I’m about to confess something appalling and I guess in a way I am. “Magnus.”

“What?” She gasps.

I hold my hands out, trying to calm her. “Hear me out first.” I say. “He wants us to join them, to join the Brethren.”

“Is he mad?” She snarls. “Why the fuck would we ever want that?”

I sigh, taking the glass from her hand and I place it on the side. “We might not have a choice.”

“How so?”

“I killed Alistair,” I state. “Apparently that means I’ve given myself a death sentence.”

“But they’ll spare you if you join them?” She guesses.

“Yes. But, it’s not all bad.” I hate that I’m spinning it like this, but I’m not lying either. Joining the Brethren has perks. Big perks. I’ve always been a greedy man, an ambitious one, so far I may have only set roots in Verona but I wanted more, I’ve always wanted more. Darius put paid to a lot of that but joining the Brethren can give me it back, it can give us it all.

And Sofia, if she becomes one of them, she’ll be even more protected.

She sighs, studying my face for a moment. “You want to do it.” She surmises.

I nod. “But it’s not just me, we both have to.”

She chews her lip, clearly not liking it. “Will they really kill you if you say no?” She asks.

I nod back. They may not have said the words but I know what the threat was.

“Then what choice do we have?” She replies.

My eyebrows raise. “You make it sound so simple.”

She laughs, planting a quick, almost chaste kiss on my lips. “It is simple. I’m not going to do anything that risks your life, and besides, you don’t look too pissed about it.”

My lips curl, I wrap my arms around her waist, dearly wishing I could claim her the way I so desperately want. By the time we have sex again I doubt I’ll be able to last more than a few minutes before I blow my load. It’s a good thing I’ve been fattening her up because she’s going to need all that energy for the amount of orgasms she owes me.

“So we’ll do it?” I ask.

She sighs, claiming my lips. “Together.”

The End