“Pick it up.”
Swallowing my groan, I slipped sideways against the wall and scooped up the small white bottle. I squinted, trying unsuccessfully to read the label.
“What—what are they?”
Cut shifted, bringing my attention to the gun resting on his knee. It still pointed at me, like it had during the beating Daniel gave me. “I told you. Your final chance.”
I scowled at the gun. “And if I don’t agree…to whatever you want me to do next?”
“It ends. Here and now. I put you out of your misery and life moves on.”
My heart raced, dragging Nila back into existence. “If you kill me, does that void the Debt Inheritance?”
Could I somehow free Nila from this by sacrificing myself?
Cut pursed his lips, anger shading his features. “You’re saying you would die for a fucking Weaver? Come on, Jethro. Be a man and accept what I’m trying to give you.” He opened his arms, signalling Hawksridge. “This will be all yours. The companies, trade routes, mines…all yours. Is one woman worth all that?”
Silence was syrupy, its only companion the chilled dampness surrounding us.
Yes.
She’s worth that and more.
“So that was a yes?” My voice croaked. I took another sip of water. “If you kill me, the debts are done. You need a firstborn. That’s why there’s only been seven Weavers claimed over the centuries. Things go wrong; life interferes. What did you tell me? That raising a Hawk and Weaver to age requirement without one dying, going missing, or failing in some way was a fucking miracle? Kill me—end this so-called miracle. Another generation would be safe.”
Cut shot to his feet and kicked my leg. Normally, such a blow wouldn’t hurt, but it landed on multiple bruises already given courtesy of Daniel.
I hissed, fisting my hands around the bottle and spilling water down my bloodied clothes.
“Ordinarily, Jethro, you would be right. With your death comes her salvation. She’d walk free. She wouldn’t be claimed because the firstborn didn’t survive.”
The biggest wash of relief enveloped me. That was the answer then. The only way. I could avoid any more hardship and Nila could avoid death.
I can give you that, Nila. I can give you a long life free from me.
“Do it,” I commanded, my voice firm with conviction. “It seems our wishes have finally aligned, Father. I wish to die. You wish to have a different heir. There’s only one logical conclusion.”
Gathering my threadbare energy, I somehow climbed to my feet. I used the wall as a cane and swayed like a drunkard, but I was on two feet—equal to Cut standing before me.
Cut raised the gun, pointing at my heart.
All fear was gone. I was happy with this sacrifice. I finally found a purpose for my screwed-up life, and Nila would be safe to live without being beheaded.
It’s the right thing—the noble thing to do.
And thanks to Daniel’s beating, perhaps I’d paid enough tax to find my way into heaven, rather than purgatory.
“You truly are twisted,” Cut snarled. “How can you piss me off and make me proud all at the same time?”
I stiffened. I didn’t need his mind games anymore. I needed an ending. I want it over with. “Just do it.” I held out my hands, one clutching the water bottle and the other the white container that rattled with who knew what. “You know you want to.”
Cut paced away, dragging a hand through his hair. “No, I do not want to! I’m not a fucking monster, Jethro. I’m trying to save your fucking life, not end it!” He stormed back, waving the deadly weapon in my face. “You know what? Death is too easy for someone like you. You’re too damn strong, and I refuse to put an end to a man who could rule our name as it needs to be ruled. Kestrel is a good man, but he isn’t steadfast like you. And Daniel—” He rolled his eyes. “He’s a fucking maniac who would whittle away our fortune in years.” Tapping the gun against his chin, his eyes came alight with a plan.
My gut twisted.
Fuck.
“There’s a new condition to my offer.”
I’d been so close to saving her.
I fought the urge to hunch in defeat. “Spit it out.”
“If you die…if you kill yourself, plan an accident, or find some other way to end it thinking you can protect that little Weaver Whore, then I’ll give her to Daniel. Do you hear me?”
My temper roared. “But he’s not firstborn—”
“I don’t care about the fucking rules anymore, Jet. Because of you, all of this is a complicated fuck-up. That girl will pay. She wears the collar. It will come off. And the Debt Inheritance will be paid—with or without you.”
I didn’t bother to ask how we’d sort out the media mess and get her back. My family was entirely too resourceful. Her escape was merely an interlude, and I was fucking kidding myself if I thought differently.
My heart galloped with hatred. “What are you saying?”
“If you do what I ask, you can continue to extract the debts. No one will lay a hand on her unless you command it. She’ll remain yours and in your protection until the Final Debt.”
My bruised hands tightened around the bottles. “And how do you propose I do that?” I laughed, the dark chuckle sounded like insects in the catacombs’ echoing chambers. “Let’s end the bullshit, Father. You know what I am. We both know I can’t change. Why bother keeping me alive when I’ll only cause more fucking hardship? Just get it over with. Forget about the Weavers. Forget about me. Just forget all of it and put an end to this madness.”