Logan laughed bitterly. “Do you know what you just did,” hissed the angel-born. “You just killed us both. You killed us.”
“I know how this looks. But trust me on this.”
“Trust you?” Logan’s face was twisted in disgust, and I pulled my eyes away from him before I fell apart. Keep it together, Sam.
Vorkol’s expression turned dark. “You’ve made your choice. Take the bird back to her cage. And take the other one with her,” she said sharply. “We’ll see how long you can hold on to your secrets.”
The minotaur yanked out his sword. “Move,” he ordered as he came around me and hit me hard in the back with the pommel of his sword.
I stumbled forward and nearly lost my balance. White-hot pain laced through my spine, but I wouldn’t cry out. I wouldn’t show her my pain. I wouldn’t show her she was winning.
Logan was silent, his expression dark and especially not friendly as we trudged forward towards the exit.
The last thing I saw before stepping through the door was Vorkol’s deep scowl, her gaze locked on Faris.
22
Sharing a small six-by-six metal cage was not my idea of a great first date or first time alone with Logan.
Yes, the angel-born was hot and sweaty, and so very close. But the sweat wasn’t the after-sex sweat and glow, but more of flush from the toxic acidic air on his cheeks and a feverish glow from the death blade’s poison. Yeah. Not so great.
I would have much preferred to be home on the couch, watching a movie or a series while Logan poured me some wine.
Well, we couldn’t always get what we wanted. Even if he was just sitting across from me. Even if I could just reach out and grab him.
A part of me felt sick. Another part felt angry. I wasn’t sure which one was winning.
“This is your fault,” Logan said. It was the first time he’d spoken to me since we’d been thrown in the cage three hours ago. His voice was different—cold and terrible and hard. I’d never heard him speak that way before.
Ouch. “I know,” I answered. What was I supposed to say?
Logan rubbed his jaw. “You should have told her. Why didn’t you tell her? You like it here or something?”
I frowned at the tone of exasperation in his voice. “It’s not that simple.”
“Really?” His eyes flashed incredulously. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Where do I start.”
“This isn’t funny,” he growled, his face a shade darker. “You think this is a joke? My life is a joke to you?”
I sighed. “Of course not. Relax, will you? You’re giving me a headache.”
Logan’s expression was hard. “Fine. We’ll just call the minotaur demon and tell him you want to talk to her. Tell her you’ve changed your mind. Just tell her how you killed the bastard so we can go home.”
“Go home?” I took an irritated breath. “You do realize that was never her intention, right? She’s never going to let us go home. Unless we can escape, we’re never getting out of here.”
Logan’s face went tight. “I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest, a determined look playing on his face. “If you had told her, I wouldn’t even be here. I don’t get it. I don’t get why you’re doing this. Why can’t you just tell her?”
“Because.”
“Because what?” he shouted, making my blood boil, and I imagined slapping his pretty face. And then one more time, just because I felt like it.
I stifled my temper before I started a shouting match. The last thing I needed was for the minotaur to come back with his very large sword. “Because if I told her,” I said, “thousands would die. I’m saving lives by not telling her. Don’t you get it?”
Logan frowned and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t understand you,” he said, laughing in impatience.
“No, you don’t.”
Eyebrows high, Logan made a soft sound in his throat. His jaw clenched before he said, “Then explain it to me. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. Not for a little while.”
I met his gaze. Brown eyes blinking, an intent look came into Logan’s eyes, calculating and skeptical.
“Well?” he questioned finally. “I’m all ears.”
I watched him, wondering if I could trust him. Then, before I knew what I was doing, my mouth opened, and the words came pouring out.
I told him about how my father had tried to kill me because of what I was and how my grandfather had saved me from the flames. I spoke about how I discovered what I could do, about my special gift, and why I’d kept it a secret all this time. And finally, I recounted the events leading to my fight with Vargal and how I used my gift with Poe to kill him. Since he’d been unconscious at the time, I’d never been sure if he had seen me use my gift, seen all those versions of me.
My heart was pounding when I was finished, but his worried expression melted into one of his famous smiles. I wondered if I had made the right choice at telling him, or if I had damned myself instead. Only time would tell, I supposed.
“If the witches found out I can borrow magic without having to make bargains with demons,” I said, “they’d kill me for it. Like my father tried to do. They’d bleed me, wanting it for themselves, or simply just kill me and not allow me to have it.” I let out a sigh. “You can imagine what Vorkol will do with that kind of power. I can never let her have it.” Logan just sat there facing me. He squinted his eyes, his gaze distant. I had no idea what was transpiring behind those brown eyes. I barely knew the guy. Nervous, I felt the beginnings of regret at telling him. My adrenaline surged. Shit. What had I done?
“I’d been wondering about that,” said Logan, a curious glint in his eye. “So all those replicas of you... those were real? I just thought I’d hit my head a little too hard.”
My heart seemed to skip a beat. My throat contracted as I swallowed. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Logan. But you can’t tell her. You can’t tell anyone. Promise me.” I waited as my fear redoubled. “Promise me,” I said again, my voice high with a mix of regret and fear.
Logan looked up, his gaze lingering on me, and I held my breath. “I promise.”
I believed him, strangely enough. I let out a shaky breath, not enjoying the fact he’d seen me like this, though my relief was a warm wash through me.
“Your father’s a dick,” said Logan after a long silence.
“Among other things,” I agreed. My insides twisted. In my mind’s eye, I could see a malicious smile reflected on my father’s face, the evil gleam in his eyes, right before he tossed me into the fire. Some kids block out traumatic events to protect themselves. Me, well, the memory was absolutely crystalline, like it happened just yesterday. The man was a true monster.
Logan’s handsome features creased in worry. “It must have been hard growing up with that. I mean, having your own father blaming you for your mother’s death and then trying to kill you. That would seriously mess up a little kid.”
I shook my head. “Not really.” I shifted my weight, trying to find a spot that wasn’t so hard on my butt. “I had my grandfather and my great aunt watching over me. It was enough.”