Chapter 3 #2
Noah nodded. “Eight years in the infantry. Left as a Staff Sergeant after two tours in Iraq, one in Syria, one in Afghanistan. Fourteen months living on the streets. Less freedom in all that time than the last week with Antoine.” He eased back with a wry look.
“Free will, huh? Do any of us really have it?”
That was exactly the argument she’d expect a mind-controlled thrall to give. “Free will is walking away whenever you want. You can’t now.”
He laughed dryly. “I couldn’t before. You can’t walk away from a military contract, and how do you ‘walk away’ from living on the streets?”
Cally frowned. Maybe there was some truth to that. “All right, but you could still choose how you spent your time. You can’t now.”
“You’re wrong, Cally.” Noah didn’t seem offended.
“Antoine doesn’t control our every waking moment.
He asks us to do things for him, and we’re pleased to.
I understand why you’re asking, you know.
I’m aware I’m a thrall. I won’t deny that it bothered me at first. But the bond I have with Antoine?
When he tells me ‘go there,’ ‘do this,’ whether he intends it or not, I always know why.
Like he’s sharing his thoughts and feelings along with the command.
” He smiled gently. “You know the first thing he told me to do?”
“No.”
“Look out for you.”
She shifted in her seat. “You and Zoey were following me around for a while.”
“He told me to keep my distance, but your safety was my top priority. And he sent me an image of you—mentally, I mean. With it, came a whole bunch of care, you know? It was obvious you were important to him, that he saw so much in you. But more than that. He genuinely wanted you to be safe.”
When would that have been? Before she first went to Minh’s club, but after she’d tried to fry Antoine with a UV torch. Still, she knew why. “Because I was food for him, Noah.”
Noah shook his head. “No. I would’ve had a different sense if it had been something so trite.
This is what I mean. Each time Antoine tells me to do something, I get more of a sense of who he is.
Yes, I’m his thrall, but you know what? I’ve had worse bosses.
Plus I’m stronger, faster, harder to kill.
I’ll never get sick. But the truth is at this point I’d work for him anyway, thrall or not. ”
“You would?” Cally couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. He sounded genuine.
“All of us would. You’d get the same answer from Zoey, Diego, Tom.
” He paused for a breath or two, eyes on the table.
“I guess it’s in part because I’ve always wanted to protect.
That’s why I joined the military in the first place, I suppose.
But here? With you and Antoine? There’s real purpose—more than I’ve ever had before. Isn’t that what life’s about?”
“The way you speak of him, it almost sounds like you love him,” Cally said tentatively. She hadn’t expected such depth of feeling.
“What’s love if it’s not knowing someone so well that you accept them, flaws and all?
” Noah asked, his tone serious. “The bond makes that easy. I have no choice but to obey, and maybe there, you’re right.
But I don’t have to be happy about it, and I am happy.
” He tilted his head. “Love? Sure, you could call it that. I tend to think of it as loyalty. No offense, chica, but I’d rather sleep with Gabe than your beau. He’s hotter.”
Cally laughed. “I didn’t know you were gay.”
“I’m not.” Noah grinned. “But if I could be persuaded, a guy like Gabe might just do it. Pretty sure he’s bi, too. I’ve seen the way he looks at me. And the way he looks at you, for that matter.”
“I hadn’t noticed.” She hadn’t looked for it, either. Too focused on Antoine.
“Did I answer your question? Set your mind at ease?”
“Yeah, I think you did. Thanks, it helped.”
“Helped me too. I don’t feel so seasick anymore.” Noah gave a rueful smile. “One time, I was on a boat, and this woman smoked these very strong Turkish cigarettes. The smell made me—” He broke off abruptly, stiffening in his seat. “We’ve arrived. I can hear Antoine.”
Cally leaned forward, her pulse accelerating. “Tell him I’m with you. Tell him we’re going to get him out.”
“I have.” Noah was silent as he listened, eyes distant, then winced. “Antoine’s hurting. He’s chained in a steel box and he can’t move.” Another pause, then he focused on Cally. “He thinks Gabe betrayed him.”
“Shit.” She frowned. “I don’t get it; that doesn’t seem likely. Why would he help us?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he has some long-term play?”
“Tell Antoine that Gabe turned up first thing this morning and is offering to help.”
“I did already.” Noah winced again, as though listening to music that was too loud. “Antoine isn’t buying it. He’s… well, he’s fucking livid.”
“Oh, God. I can only imagine.” Cally wished she could talk to him.
She focused on their bond, but all it offered was a strong pull toward where Antoine was, still east, but now down and through the floor too.
“Tell him we’re coming for him; we’re working as fast as we can.
Tell him I won’t leave him there. Tell him… tell him I love him.”
The one message she wanted to give him herself, above all else. But he needed to know, even if it had to be like this.
“He says he’s sorry. He says he loves you too.”
“He has no reason to be sorry. Tell him that.”
“He says…” Noah paused, his jaw clenching.
“He says he’s left you without a way to manage your power.
” His eyes focused on her again. “What does that mean?” He blinked rapidly as he listened to the voice she so badly wanted to hear.
“Shit, you’re a witch? You could die if someone doesn’t feed on you? ”
“He fed on me last night. We have plenty of time. He’ll be back before it’s an issue.” He has to be.
“Antoine says if you need someone to feed on you to manage your power, it will have to be Belle.”
“Belle won’t do it,” Cally said bitterly. “She’s already fed once, and she won’t take the risk of being bound to me.”
“Antoine says—”
Her chin came up. “You tell Antoine that he’ll be back before I need anyone to feed on me. You tell Antoine my blood is his, and his alone.”
Noah held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. “I’ve told him. He’s unconvinced, but he’s accepting for now.”
There had to be something else she could say to ease the burden of his captivity. “Did you tell him we have a plan to get him out?”
“Do we?”
“Eve will have figured it out already.”
“All right. He can tell when I’m lying or holding back, but I’ll borrow your confidence.”
Cally waited, wishing she could say so much more, wishing she could touch him again. She clenched her fists on the surface of the table.
“I don’t think I convinced him,” Noah reported. “He’s saying… he wants us to leave him be. There’s nothing we can do now anyway.”
He was pushing her away, and she knew why. “You tell that aggravating bastard not to give up hope. You tell him I’m coming for him, no matter how long it takes, no matter what I have to do. I will get him out of there.”