Page 65 of Inextricably Tied

Flint rubs his jaw as bitterness slips into his voice. “Must be nice getting all that insight from one touch. Being connected to her. Seeing things I’ve apparently missed for years.”

Agony shakes his head as he tilts the chair back on two legs. “You have a connection with Harbinger — one that magic can’t replicate. But you don’t trust it enough. You don’t trust yourselves enough.”

Flint doesn’t look at him. Keeps his eyes on his flexing fingers, gaze tracing over his palms. Agony sets his chair back on the ground.

“Is it because of that man?”

Flint doesn’t answer.

“It wasn’t wrong, you know,” Agony supplies. “Killing him.”

“And you’re the expert on that.”

“I’m a pretty good authority on what is wrong.”

There’s no arguing that. When Harbinger explained it to Agony, it made sense. It seemed simple. But Flint doesn’t see it that way.

“Why do you feel guilty?” Agony tries.

Flint considers the answer. Considers not responding. His eyes dart toward the doorway, as if chasing Harbinger down would be far better than this conversation. But then, his fists drop between his knees.

“It didn’t feel good. It didn’t make me feel better. It didn’t make a difference.”

“You stopped a bad person from doing bad things to someone else. I’d say that makes a difference.”

A biting laugh scratches Flint’s throat. “And how do you know killing him didn’t make me a bad person?” The words stick on his tongue. Agony tilts his head.

“When I killed people, it felt good.”

“Why?”

It’s the first real question Flint has asked him. Agony stares up to the ceiling. “It felt good giving back what I was getting. Revenge. Returning the favor.” Agony rolls his head to look at Flint. “Have you killed other people?”

“Yes.”

“For the same reason?”

“Similar.”

“But you wish you hadn’t?”

“No.” Flint lays back across the bed, hands resting on the curve of his stomach. “There were no other options. I’d do it again to protect Harbinger. To protect other people. I don’t regret what I’ve done, but…killing people isn’t nothing to me.”

“So you need a guard dog.”

Flint lifts a brow toward him.

“You’re defense,” Agony explains. “The armor. The wings to escape. You need someone to play offense. To get their hands dirty. You protect Harbin, and your guard dog attacks.”

Finally, there’s a shred of humor in Flint’s smile. “And that’s gonna be you?”

“Maybe.”

You can’t protect her everywhere…but we could.

“See…” Flint hisses a skeptical breath. “I can’t tell if this is a game to you. If it’s a fun way to fuck with us. Get as close as you can before you kill us and everyone around.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I tell you I won’t.”