anger gave way to resignation. You crossed the short distance between us and threw your arms around my neck. I sheathed my weapons so that I could properly embrace you. I held you close, relishing the press of your weight against me.
“I knew you’d come for me,” you said into my neck. Then you bit my tender flesh and bled me, just a little. Were you establishing your dominance or was it merely a gesture of affection? Regardless, I cupped your head and offered my blood freely.
I didn’t say it then, though I wish I had. I will always come for you.
31
Vincent
You were not being kind to Ashur. He moaned pitifully while you and Lucian bound him in thick, heavy chains. The metal cuffs around his wrists attached to both the shackles on his ankles and a barbed collar, which resembled an open bear trap. I didn’t know if I was more disturbed that Ashur had this equipment on hand or that you and Lucian knew exactly what to do with it.
“That’s too tight,” I told you when Ashur cried out from the pinch of metal around his throat.
“He’s preying on your sympathies,” you answered tersely.
“Despite his rudimentary speech, the beastborn is highly intelligent,” Lucian added, tugging the chain like a lead so that Ashur would follow.
“He’s not pretending to be in pain.” I laid a hand on Ashur’s bare shoulder and you barked at me to back away. “I’m only trying to comfort him. You don’t have to treat him so roughly.”
“I will restrain you as well if you don’t obey me,” you warned.
“I dare you to try it,” I shot back. Your eyes held mine, begging me not to fight you, but you were the one who’d started it.
“We’ll get you out of here,” I said to Ashur. “When all of this is over, you can come with us to our lands. We’ll protect you.” I looked at Lucian who had described it to me as a safe haven. “Azrael can’t get us there, can he?”
“No. Our ancestral lands are off-limits, even to Azrael’s interference.”
“But that doesn’t mean he can’t accost us on our way there,” you said, always the pessimist.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” I assured him. Ashur nodded and seemed to calm down, but I caught him, a second later, giving you a murderous look when you reached for my hand. Whatever he might have had with my father, he needed to understand that wasn’t the case with me.
“We’re soul-bound,” I told Ashur. “You’ll have to accept it.”
“You don’t need to justify anything to that animal,” you rumbled under your breath.
“Don’t be so tribalist,” I told you. “He’s as much a person as either of us.”
“Perhaps we should get going,” Lucian said and nudged Ashur to lead the way.
“Wait.” I called for Spooky. She emerged from the shadows and stared expectantly up at me. I slung her over my shoulders. Her familiar weight and warmth comforted me.
The series of corridors were so narrow and winding that I got dizzy from all the turns. You marked our path, and I stayed behind you without any argument. Your mood was tense, and I regretted arguing with you before. You were clearly terrified of what might happen to us, and you hated being underground. Despite all of that, you’d rescued me and whether he realized it or not, Ashur as well. I only hoped the two of you would get along, in time.
We heard a moan then, even louder than the dybbuks, and the sounds of a man talking to himself in a low, desperate voice. You told me to stay back while Lucian investigated. “It’s only Seneser,” he called. “Or rather, Maxwell.”
We turned the corner and stepped into what must have been Mater’s cell. It had only ragged bedding, a table, and a chair, all of which had been torn apart. There was also an upended oil lamp and a few books, also ruined. It looked as though someone had destroyed everything in a fit of rage. Maxwell was sitting against the wall, clutching his knees and rocking back and forth like a scared child. I crouched beside him and laid a hand on his arm.
“Maxwell.”
“How do you know my name?” He glanced frantically from my face to yours. “Oh, no. Not you guys again. I swear to God, I didn’t do anything wrong. Please, just let me go.”
“Gag him,” you said.
“No,” I said before Lucian could advance. “Let me try talking to him first.”