"That is a question for Padma to answer, not me," Jean-Claude said.
"What is your price?" Padma asked.
"No more punishment for Oliver's death. He lost a duel, it is as simple as that." Jean-Claude coughed, and more blood spattered from his lips.
"Agreed," Padma said.
"Agreed," the Traveler said.
"I never wanted them dead because of the Earthmover's death," Yvette said. "Agreed."
Asher said, "The Earthmover earned his death. Agreed."
Jean-Claude held his hand out to me. "Come, ma petite. We have our safety."
I shook my head, laying a kiss on Padma's forehead, gentle, chaste. "I promised Sylvie that everyone who raped her would die."
Padma's body jerked, reaction at last. "The woman you can have, but not my son."
"Do you agree to that, Traveler? You, who Liv calls master now. Do you give her up so easily?"
"Will you kill him if I refuse?" he asked.
"I gave Sylvie my word," I said. And I knew that would mean something to them.
"Then Liv is yours to do with as you see fit."
"Master," she said.
"Silence," the Traveler said.
"See, Liv, they're just monsters." I stared down into Padma's bloody face and watched fear fill his eyes like water pouring into a glass. I watched him look into my face and see the emptiness. No, for the first time I wanted to kill. Not for revenge, or safety, or even my word, but just because I could. Because in some dark part of me it would be a pleasure to crush his heart and watch dark blood pour from him. I'd have liked to blame it on Raina's munin, but I wasn't sure. Maybe it was just me. Maybe it always had been. Hell, maybe it was one of the boys. I didn't know and it didn't matter. I let the thought fill my face and eyes. I let Padma see, and fear filled his face, his eyes, because he understood.
"I want Fernando," I said softly.
"He is my son."
"Someone must die for his crimes, Padma. I would rather it were him, but if you won't give him to me, then I'll take you in his place."
"No," Yvette said. "We have been more than generous here. We have let you kill a council member and go unpunished. We have given you back your traitor and our new toy. We owe you nothing else."
I looked at Padma but I spoke for the Traveler's ears. "If you had just insulted the vampires of this city, then it would be over and you would owe us nothing. But we are lukoi and not vampires. You called our Geri to your hand and she came. You tried to break her, and when she would not bend you tortured her. You tortured her when you knew it would not give you the lukoi. You dishonored her for no reason, other than that you could. You did it because you expected no reprisal. The Master of Beasts thought our pack was beneath notice. Pawns in a larger game."
I released his heart, because if I hadn't, the munin would have killed him. I shoved the power deeper into him. I shoved it hard and fast until he screamed. Gideon and Thomas echoed the scream.
Padma collapsed backwards onto the floor with me riding his body.
I rose up, hands flat over his chest, legs straddling his body. "We are the Thronos Rokke, the Throne Rock people, and we are no one's pawns."
Fernando knelt just outside the circle. "Father," he said.
"His life or yours, Padma. His life or yours."
Padma closed his eyes and whispered, "His."
"Father! You can't give me to her. To them!"
"Your word of honor that he is ours to punish as we see fit, even unto death," I said.