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I smirked. "Later, sure. You know, I know a place in the city. It has special meaning for Dex and I. He took me there once. If he were to have a hidey hole anywhere, it would be there."
"Where?" Seth stopped in the middle of the corridor, his grip tighter on my arm. His nails dug into tender flesh, but I made myself remain still.
I laughed humourlessly. "I can't even find my way around the Residence. I could show you where, but only if I went there again. I couldn't show you where on a map."
Seth pressed his lips together. "I need you to go there anyway. If he's there, he'll come out for you. But tomorrow. We need word to reach him first. Are you sure you can't tell me exactly where?"
"I don't know exactly where," I said regretfully. "It's in the lower city and we went there once before Helene kidnapped me." I scowled.
No, I wasn't still bitter about her doing that. At. All. Okay, I totally was. I was still pissed at Bain for his part in it. Come to think of it, I was pissed at Knox too, because he knew about it.
"She went about it all the wrong way," Seth said.
"No shit," I muttered. "But if she'd asked, I would have told her no. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that raising a god is a bad idea."
Seth bristled. "When Comus returns for us, to give us power, you'll feel differently."
"Or you will," I said evenly. "You might not want to serve Comus the way he wants you to." I would almost feel sorry for Seth if he became a ghost servant. Almost. I would feel much sorrier for myself.
"All the more reason to shore up our power," Seth said. "So he will serve us."
I nearly burst out laughing, but then realised he was serious.
"You think a god will kneel to you?" I asked. I shook my head. He was a whole new level of crazy.
"I have much to offer." Seth resumed walking, pulling me behind him. "You'll do well to remember that. And this— I don't need you to have a tongue."
"Funny, Helene said the same thing," I told him. "You're a lovely pair. Are you sure that's not why the witches sent you here, to the Vault?" I was pushing his buttons, but I couldn't stop myself.
Instead of getting angrier, he laughed. "They sent you here too."
"Touché," I replied dryly. "Maybe they had a point. I am somewhat unhinged. Ask anyone."
He tugged me to a room and shoved me inside so hard I lost my balance and fell on my ass.
"Shit. What the fuck?"
He looked down at me. Hunger burned in his eyes.
I swear he contemplated pinning me down then and there and forcing himself on me. The only thing which stopped him was the fact he wanted me to want him. His pride was bigger than his lust.
I was grateful for that.
I pushed myself to my feet. If I didn't think he had a lot of guards nearby, I would have drawn, picked him up and hurled him against a wall. Repeatedly. Until there was nothing less but a bleeding pulp of shattered bones and flesh and ruined organs and…
"We have to make them notice," he said. "They need to see, then report to Dex." His lips curled in a savage smile. "They need to hear." Without warning, he gave me a stinging slap across the face. Anyone nearby would have heard the slap, my cry of pain, and a thud as I hit the floor for the second time in as many minutes.
"Fuck you," I growled. My cheek was burning. I bet my face was red, and would be for a while. I got to my feet for a third time.
"If I thought it would draw him sooner, I would," Seth said.
"I thought you wanted me by your side?" I asked.
"There is no side while Dex is still Keeper," Seth growled. "I should have killed him when I had the chance.
"Yeah, your mistake." I rubbed my cheek. Not killing Seth might be mine, but I had to hold off. For now.
"You might want to try being nice to people," I added. "It's easier to be loyal to someone when they're not being a massive douchebag."
