Helix’s head jerked up from where he’d been dabbing at some blood on his side. “What?”

She didn’t pay him any attention, her eyes locked on Fin’s. “You want my forgiveness more than anything. If I get captured, kill me, that’s how you can earn it.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Fin pressed his hand over my lips. With a glare, I shoved his hand away.

“I don’t know if I can do that,” he told her.

She took a step forward, blocking him in against me. “Then find the strength because I refuse to be a puppet for that monster again.”

Despite Fin’s need for her forgiveness, I knew from somewhere in my chest that if he had to kill his sister, something inside him would die too.

I nudged Fin to the side and met her eyes. “If he can’t do it, I will.”

She gave me a long appraising look and then nodded. “Yes, you look like you could do it.”

“I know what it means to have that man in your head uninvited. I was violated by him. Not in the same way you were, but I understand your need to keep it from happening again.”

We shared another long look, the pain of our mutual interactions with Esteban swimming between us.

Helix came over, to drag her away. “I didn’t agree to this.”

“You don’t have to agree to it. I didn’t ask you to kill me. We know that it would go against your contract and I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He gripped her arm tighter, so tight I almost intervened, but she shrugged off his hold.

“If you die...” Helix began.

“Then your contract is fulfilled.” Melinda said, dismissively. “It was always written that way. I know your concern isn’t for me, but for yourself. So, don’t worry about that.”

I shared a look with Fin, trying to figure out what the hell was going on between these two. It also seemed like it probably wasn’t my business.

“We need to figure out how we can get out of here with no one dying,” I said. “Let’s try that first before we start dividing up who is going to take out who.”

A scowling Helix took up a place by the door, his usually perfect hair mussed, his collar open, his tattoos a juxtaposition against his tailored clothing and weapons. “We need to fight our way back up to the main floor and out the front. Once we get out, then I can get Melinda to safety and you two can go about whatever it is you do.”

“Your concern is touching,” Fin said, deadpan.

Melinda cut in. “You want us separated so there’s no chance one of them does what you can’t.”

Helix charged forward and captured her shoulders. “Do you have a death wish? Everything I do is to ensure you stay alive. How is this any different?”

Fin looked like he wanted to interrupt but I put my hand on his chest and shook my head.

“Whatever is happening there, is between them,” I whispered.

Another loud crash came from above. The entire building seemed to shake with an impact.

“How is it that they are out there attacking, and no one is noticing this much noise or damage?” I asked, more to myself than anyone else.

“Maybe that’s the magic you sensed. If they are shielding the building, making it look completely normal, no one would notice or come to help.

Well, shit. Not that I expected anyone to rush to my aid. No one ever seemed to do that when I needed them, but it was always nice to have the tiny glimmer of hope.

“So, we fight?” I asked, checking the straps on my leg sheaths and dropping the sword off my back. If I couldn’t use it, then I didn’t need the weight.

Fin kissed my cheek and palmed two of his daggers. Damn, I loved a man with knives.

“We fight.”

Tags: Amelia Shaw The Rover Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net