Page 83 of The Devil of Hollywood

“Testing?”

His brow furrowed. “Yes. Psychological testing.”

I laughed, groaning. “Here we are again. I knew we’d get to this point sooner rather than later. Ego and all.” I sighed. “Yes. But I think you know that. I was a fucking science experiment until I entered grade school. Let’s get to the point.”

He shifted with his anger. I could see his dislike of me. The hate he harbored was never far. He was good at hiding it, but he couldn’t entirely. It was always seeping through, always making itself known with expressions or gestures. “The day you got here, you went through evaluations. You were given pills. The next day you were given more.”

My hand lifted. “You were expecting a specific result. …You didn’t get it.” I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re testing me like I think you are, I told you nothing can be done. Nothing. I can momentarily forget, I can be swayed, but I always come back. So do the memories. So does my control.”

“Elec, I don’t like the sound of this. What the hell is going on?”

Elec’s hand lifted, and he pointed. Without pause, Drayton headed to the sofa and sat down, but his glare didn’t leave. It had me smiling.

“Impressive. You just point and he sits. Now, try that on me.”

“What you’re implying is wrong. It can be done. There are stronger, more invasive procedures that will work. I’m trying to avoid that.”

“Avoid turning me into a vegetable? Yes, let’s please steer clear from that. I’m much more beneficial alive and functioning. Cut to the chase. I don’t have the patience for this shit, nor do I do well with shallow conversations. You have an agenda for me. What is it?”

“It’s not an agenda. You make it sound like I have a job for you. I don’t.”

“Sure you do. Everyone wants something. Ask The Council. Ask The Unavowed. Ask my mother. Oh, right, you can’t. You killed her.”

Elec’s cheek tugged back.

“I obviously picked a bad time to talk to you. You’re angry.”

“Far beyond that. There is no right time for this conversation.”

“There is, just not when you’re so upset. What is bothering you, Marian? You can talk about it with me. We may have our differences, but I am here to help you. Is it the rapes?”

Fire branched over my face, creeping down my neck.

“The rapes only opened my eyes. They woke me up to motives. Everyone has one. Everyone. What’s yours, Elec? Where do I fit into your puzzle? You made sure I was given to Drayton. You threw a fit when you thought I was staying in London. There are reasons for that. What are they?”

He mirrored me, crossing his arms over his chest, but he seemed to relax a little.

“My motives are ruined. The Unavowed stole them.”

“Ah” My head nodded, but it was Drayton who sat forward, speaking.

“He was right. You wanted our heir for your own. He says you need to worry about a wife first. Then, you can worry more about your line.”

“The Unavowed can keep his mouth shut.”

I laughed. “He has a point. Instead of forcing people into marriages, perhaps you should focus on finding a chosen.”

“I need no chosen.”

“Wrong. You need an heir.”

“I don’t need a chosen for that.”

My head shook. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Sure it does.”

“You mean to use a surrogate? You wouldn’t dare.”