“My choice,” Payne said grimly.
His shellan met him in the eye. “I’m sorry, V.”
A whitewash cut his vision off, but did nothing to slow his body down as he lunged forward. Just as he reached the bedside, his eyes cleared and he saw his gloved hand latch onto his shellan’s wrist.
His death grip was the only thing keeping his twin from death. And he addressed her, not his mate. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
Payne’s eyes were violent as they met his own. “And do not you dare!”
V recoiled for a moment. He had stared into the faces of bested enemies and discarded subs and forgotten lovers both male and female, but he had never seen such depths of hatred before.
Ever.
“You are not my god!” she screamed at him. “You are but my brother! And you will not chain me unto this body any more than our mahmen will!”
Their fury was so well matched that for the first time in his life, he was at a loss. After all, it made no sense to enter into conflict if your opponent was equal.
Trouble was, if he left now, he was coming back to a funeral.
V wanted to pace to dial down his pissed-off, but he’d be damned if he was looking away for even a split second. “I want two hours,” he said. “I can’t stop you, but I can ask you to give me one hundred and twenty minutes.”
/> Payne’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever for.”
Because he was going to do something that would have been inconceivable when this whole thing had started. But this was a type of war, and accordingly, he didn’t have the luxury of picking his weapons—he had to use what he had, even if he hated it.
“I’ll tell you exactly why.” V took the needle from Jane’s hold. “You’re going to do it so this doesn’t haunt me for the rest of my fucking life. How ’bout that for a reason. Good enough?”
Payne’s lids sank down and there was a whole lot of silence. Except then she said, “I will give you what you ask, but my mind will not be changed if I remain in this bed. Assure yourself of your expectations afore you depart—and be forewarned if you attempt to reason with our mahmen. I will not trade this prison for one on her side, in her world.”
Vishous shoved the needle in his pocket and unsheathed the hunting knife that was perm-attached to the belt on his leathers. “Give me your hand.”
When she offered it, he sliced her palm with the blade and did the same to his own flesh. Then he clasped the wounds together.
“Vow it. On our shared blood, you take a vow to me.”
Payne’s mouth twitched as if, once again, she would have smiled under different circumstances. “Trust me not?”
“Nope,” he said roughly. “Not in the slightest, sweetheart.”
A moment later, her hand gripped his and a slick of tears formed over her eyes. “I so vow.”
Vishous’s lungs loosened and he drew a deep breath. “Fair enough.”
He dropped his hold, turned around, and strode for the door. As soon as he was in the corridor, he didn’t waste time heading for the tunnel.
“Vishous.”
At the sound of Jane’s voice, he wheeled around and wanted to curse. Shaking his head, he said, “Don’t follow me. Don’t call me. Nothing good is going to come out of my being within earshot of you right now.”
Jane’s arms crossed over her chest. “She’s my patient, V.”
“She’s my blood.” In frustration, he slashed the air with his hand. “I don’t have time for this. I’m out of here.”
At that, he took off at a run. Leaving her behind.
NINETEEN
When Manny got back to his place, he closed the door, locked it . . . and stood there. Like a piece of furniture. With his briefcase in his hand.