Page 114 of Till Death

She turned; a rare moment of weakness settled onto her beautiful face.

“We don’t need them. Keep your silverware.”

She shook her head, leaving Orin’s arms to stand before me, her back to the table as she gripped my hands, resting her forehead on mine. “I have to let him go, Maiden.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I threw my arms around her and held on tight as the hammer struck as true as the magic that filled the room. When Thea drew it away, a tiny throwing knife had taken its place. On and on she went, each strike causing Paesha to jerk in my arms.

“I’m sorry,” I said, so only she could hear me. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

She sniffled. “What is a simple fork compared to the freedom of a friend?”

Armed to the teeth, every member of the Syndicate that was able to join us wound their way through the tunnel, back to Misery’s End, in silent determination. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe they’d all come for me, but the man on my right, eyes cold and dark as he led the charge, had, and he wasn’t shy about that declaration. Nor were Paesha and Quill, who’d packed in behind us, swords strapped to their backs and worry in their eyes.

Even Elowen had come. And though her son had argued, when she’d put her foot down, he silently retreated. This was not my moment, not really. It was theirs. Because if I somehow made it to that stage, it was their freedom on the line just as much as my own.

We’d argued over Quill coming. Most of us wanted her to stay away from the place. I’d sworn I could perform whatever he wanted without her, but we also trusted no one else to keep her safe, and we had no choice but to believe the Maestro coveted the power she promised more than appeasing a king that did not scare him. When Paesha mentioned he would ask where she was and they would be forced to answer, giving away their second hideout and the girl, the argument was over, and she and her pup had come along, though no one was happy about it.

“I think I don’t want to be friends with Drexel anymore,” Quill confessed halfway through the underground labyrinth.

The others halted, but most were bound by magic to not interfere. I had no such bindings. Maybe Elowen was afraid of the Maestro’s anger, but I wasn’t.

“I think that would be a very wise and mature decision,” I said, kneeling before the child.

“Do you think so, too?” she asked, giant blue eyes staring into Paesha’s.

I knew she couldn’t answer. I knew the panic in her eyes was that of the Huntress trying to fight the magic that bound her words.

“Of course, she does, Quilly.” I reached for Boo, pulling him close as a distraction. “And so does this little rascal. If you don’t want to go tonight, you don’t have to. I will take you somewhere safe. And no one else will know, so he won’t be able to force them.”

She shook her head, letting her power swell in the hallway. “Do you feel that?”

I nodded, the magic pulsing through me.

Hollis leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. “That’s love. As pure as it gets.”

I watched as each member sank into that feeling, shoulders dropping, faces softening.

“You can choose the emotion?”

She smiled, nodding. “And this one’s for you.”

She flung herself at me, arms wrapping around my neck. “I have to save you tonight, like you saved me because I love you.”

I fell backward, letting the words that had only been spoken to me once in my whole life repeat over and over in my mind. Until the world turned blurry behind my tears and the innocent soul of a child healed something damaged within me.

“You don’t have to save me, kid. I can save myself.”

She pulled away, placing her palms on both sides of my face. “Do you think the Maestro will hurt me?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want her to be afraid, but I also truly believed he wouldn’t.

“Then if you love me back, you will let me come. We’re a family. We have to stick together.”

She squeezed my cheeks until my lips puckered. Boo barked, and she giggled. “You’re not even medium scary anymore. You’re just Dey.”

“Just Dey,” I repeated. “But we have to go now, okay?”

She moved back to Paesha, the woman who’d been more like a mother to her than anyone else, then turned and grabbed Hollis’s hand. “Family, right?”