Page 87 of Thrall
“That said…” And here, she finally did smile. She couldn’t help it. “I do have a competing offer on the table. So…don’t you need to convince me, as well?”
Vanya’s laugh curdled in his throat.“Offer?”he said. “From those fossils in the library?”
“I wasn’t going to make this personal,” Lucy said mildly. “But yes, if you insist on asking. They’ve got their quirks, but they really seem like they’d be good with boundaries. And Mr. Minamoto makes this delicious herbal-blend tea. You’ve gotten me this far—and did I tell you how much I appreciate that? I just think they might be the better fit, emotionally speaking. Unless, of course, you’re open to some renegotiation. You let Mila go, and I’ll join you.”
Vanya closed the distance between them in seconds. “Ingrate,” he snapped. “You’ve overestimated your position here.”
“Iaman ingrate,” she agreed easily. “You should know this already. I left my home. I left my mother alone in her grief for a chance at being happy. So why should I not look for the best deal? I have things that you need. I’m not that impressed at the accommodations here. And I don’t think I’m going to like the taste of rats. So if you’d like me in this family, perhaps you should sweeten the deal.”
“You think I need you?” he said.
“Of course you do,” Lucy said. “You know Athena is smarter than you. It’s why her existence still burns you, even after all these years. Do you think if you kill me, the person here who knows her best, that you’ll be able to get the better of her? Because I don’t think that you will. I think she’ll escape you. And then I think you’ll never see her again.”
Vanya yanked her close, the smell of her blood still on his breath. On the other side of the room, Lucy could hear Mila struggling, but even as Sadie held her back, she didn’t resume her whispering. All she did was watch.
“Did you really come here to negotiate?” Vanya said. “Because I’m starting to think you came here just to insult me.”
“Of course I came to negotiate.” Lucy’s voice was hoarse. She could feel herself shaking in his grip. “I like Laurentius and Hiro. But my sisters are here. I want to know them, if I can. I wonder if you knew this, when you decided to come here, but this school has some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I’m sure they’re no exception. Why did the two of you come here? What did you love, Addison? What was your major, Sadie?”
One of Vanya’s hands moved to Lucy’s jaw, forcing her mouth shut.What are you doing?Sadie called into her mind.All you’re doing is making him angry. He’s going to kill you long before you get what you want.
“Hold your tongue,” Vanya growled.
Lucy would have laughed, if she could.Unless what I want isn’t what I’ve asked him for.
Which means?Sadie said.
We’ll get to that, Lucy said.I’m more interested in what you want. You and Addison.
“I think I’m finished hearing out your requests,” Vanya said, in the same moment.
“That’s fine,” Lucy gritted out, against the pressure of his grip. “It was worth a try.”
Sadie’s thoughts had begun to move faster, as though she were aware they no longer had much time.Addie just wants to be here, she said.With him, and with me. If she wants anything else, she doesn’t say, not even in the privacy of her own mind. She was lonely, and now she’s not.
And you?Lucy asked.
I wish I had the opportunity to be lonely, Sadie said.I know what your friend Athena thinks of us. I can hear it in your mind. I did become something different, after he turned me. I became nothing. He hasn’t let me be anything. Not even the monster you must think I am.
Lucy struggled, though she had no hope of getting free. It was a calculated move. One designed to make him angrier. “How about a counterproposal?” Vanya said. “I’ll forgive everything you’ve said. I’ll let you join this family. And then I’ll feed your girlfriend to your sisters.”
Lucy bared her teeth as she smiled. Surely Vanya could hear the fear in her pounding heart. Surely he couldn’t differentiate it from the anticipation.
“Laurentius was right,” she said. “You really aren’t that complicated.”
As Vanya released her throat, raked her hair back from her neck, Lucy wondered if she sounded shaky even in her mind.What if you could find out?she asked Sadie.What you are without him.
Then I’d think you’re desperate and you’re bargaining, Sadie said.I couldn’t help you right now if I tried.
Vanya’s teeth pressed lightly against her neck, as if feeling out the boundaries of her vein. When he held her like this, he couldn’t see Lucy. He couldn’t see the look on her face as she steeled herself.
I’m not asking for your help, Sadie, she said.I’m just asking you to keep watching.
Vanya’s bite made its way through the bruising and scabbing, and Lucy felt thepopof her skin giving way once more. He had fed from her gently before. He was very far from gentle now.
You said that before.There was impatience in Sadie’s flat voice.You’ve got moments left. What am I supposed to watch?
Lucy tightened her grip on Vanya as he drank deeper. Her vision flickered. The warmth of Natalie’s blood was leaving her. It would be all down to her adrenaline now.
