Page 84 of Hellbound

“Stay away,” Marian cracked, pitch spittle spewing from her lips as she fought for breath. “You did this to me.”

“I did. But I am not your enemy. We must act quickly.”

An altogether different sort of hurt split Marian in half. Rage and misery engulfed her, reducing her to spitting, screaming mess. All bared teeth and muck and fury.

“Deceiver,” Roman’s word echoed in her mind.

“Liar! Demon,” she screamed and sputtered through the ooze. “You tricked me. You’re making me like … like him. The Remnant—”

Vale’s frozen gaze narrowed. “You will never be an abomination like Roman. You are not Gifted.”

Marian wished he’d deny all this, wish he’d refute her accusations. But he didn’t. He may as well have jammed a knife under her ribs and given it a fatal twist.

“I don’t believe you. You’re all the same.” And yet you still trusted him. Her next words came out choked. “We had a deal. You said you’d protect me.”

A long, slender hand cupped her chin, sludge and all, and tilted her snarling face to meet his eyes as they blazed brilliantly under shadowed brows.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

She shook her head from his grasp with a sob.

Death was close; she could feel it. She called to it, begging it to take her. Better to greet her eternity in Hell than remain to become whatever Roman was.

Then Vale was dragging her into his lap, just like he had that night she died in his pool. “It is not the Remnant killing you now. It’s me.”

Marian thought her heart had finally stopped beating.

What?

He reached for her scarred wrist. The black ooze retreated, exposing her bracelet. He deftly untied the knot and pulled the slimy fabric free to reveal the intricate lines of scar tissue.

Why wasn’t it glowing?

“This is my mark, Marian,” Mr. Vale’s thumb swept across the still-healing skin. “But it’s not mine to give; it must be found and self-inflicted. It’s what enables you to wield my power. But that power is incompatible with your mortality, and unless you do as I say, it will give you a final death.”

Her body confirmed Vale’s words with another wave of pain so excruciating, she thought she’d shatter.

This was not the Remnant destroying her. This was something she understood even less. And damn it, she did want to live.

“Tell me what to do.”

Vale’s eyes widened, a hunger in them that might have frightened her had she not feared death more. “Bind yourself to me.”

Darkness invaded Marian’s vision before his ominous words could sink in. She could barely open her jaw as the ichor inched its way across her face, creeping into every crevice and pore. Panic ruled her as she clung to life. “How?”

“Speak the words I feel in you.”

Hot tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. What was being asked of her, really? Should it matter? Was this right? Even more terrifying was how his command summoned something strange deep inside her. Words she didn’t know how she knew.

“Marian. Now.”

Don’t do it, her faraway conscience screamed.

A deep, terrible sadness washed over her. Like she was about to say goodbye to something she never thought she could lose.

Still, that adamant voice shouted, “Marian! Don’t do it!”

But Marian decided she wanted whatever time she could still steal from this world. She coughed up another lungful of black ooze all over Vale’s pristine blue waistcoat. If he minded the mess, he didn’t show it. He simply swept the sweat-sodden hair from her brow with a cool, soothing hand and waited.