Shadow and Bone

He slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary
shrug. “Make me your villain.” He set his empty glass down
and stood. “Come here.”
Fear shot through me, but I made myself rise and close the
distance between us. He studied me in the firelight. He
reached out and touched Morozova’s collar, letting his long
fingers spread over the rough bone, then slide up my neck to
cradle my face with one hand. I felt a jolt of revulsion, but I
also felt the sure, intoxicating force of him. I hated that it still
had an effect on me.
“You betrayed me,” he said softly.
I wanted to laugh. I had betrayed him? He had used me,
seduced me, and now enslaved me, and I was the betrayer?
But I thought of Mal and swallowed my anger and my pride.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m sorry for that.”
He laughed. “You’re not sorry for any of it. The only
thought you have is for the boy and his miserable life.”
I said nothing.
“Tell me,” he said, his grip tightening painfully, his
fingertips pressing into my flesh. In the firelight, his gaze
looked unfathomably bleak. “Tell me how much you love him.
Beg for his life.”
“Please,” I whispered, fighting the tears that welled in my
eyes. “Please spare him.”
“Why?”
“Because the collar can’t give you what you want,” I said
recklessly. I had only one thing with which to bargain and it
was so little, but I pressed on. “I have no choice but to serve
you, but if Mal comes to harm, I will never forgive you. I will
fight you any way that I can. I will spend every waking minute
looking for a way to end my life, and eventually, I’ll succeed.
But show him mercy, let him live, and I will serve you gladly.
I will spend the rest of my days proving my gratitude.” I
nearly choked out the last word.
He cocked his head to one side, a small, skeptical smile
playing about his lips. Then the smile disappeared, replaced by