her cheek. “I would do whatever you ask, if you’d
only choose to remain at my side.” He whispered. “I want you to like me, Jane.”
She
did like him.
Shit.
Why the hell would she like such a lunatic? It was an even stupider idea than
the rebels building a cage and wanting them to participate in the Seventy-Sixth
Annual Hunger Games. No possible good could come from sticking with Slade and
she was smart enough to know it. So why wasn’t she running for the hills?
Maybe
she was still drunk.
“I’m
not worried that you’ll hurt me. Not like that.” Jane shook her head,
breaking the spell. “Look, I won’t help a king unless he’s fair to everyone in his kingdom. Even the unbilled peasants. These extras are the ones
suffering and they should have some say in the story.”
Slade
stared down at her for a long beat and Jane felt her insides dip. As much as
she should run away from the lunatic, she could seriously get used to the way
he looked at her. Slade might be actively working to ruin her life, but he watched
Jane like she was the only thing that could save his.
The
dance number ended with a dynamic flourish of random fireworks. Confetti
drifted down from someplace. The music crescendoed and the rebels all stopping
in “ta-da!” poses, like they were expecting thunderous applause.
Jane
and Slade ignored them.
“You
will help me?” He sorted through her statement and came up with the one part
that interested him. “ Really help me? With no more angrily sitting at
bars or slipping away when my back is turned?”
“I
never tried to sneak away. I just threatened it. In fact, when you were in
trouble, I came looking for you. I’ve been pretty damn helpful so far, buddy.
I’m even wearing this ugly bracelet without complaint.” She held up the
anti-Werewolf accessory, even though she kinda had been complaining
about the damn thing.
A
lot.
“But,
you are not yet committed to our journey.” Slade clarified. “I feel like you
are just looking for an opportunity to leave me.”
Probably
because she was . The Vampire did his best to hide it, but he wasn’t a total moron. “Tell me why I should stay, then.” Jane arched a brow. “Why should I
follow you?”
“Because
you wish Allandrina to send you back to your gloomy world and I am going to
marry the woman.”
The
reminder of Slade’s princesses didn’t improve her mood. “Not good enough.
I’ve met you. I figure there’s only a fifty/fifty shot of this girl
being dumb enough to say ‘I do.’ I don’t like that kind of risk.”
“You
seem to dislike all risks.”
“Because,
I’m not an idiot. And the smart money says I can hire a Witch easier than I
can take over a kingdom. This is a fantasy movie and fantasy movies love Witches. There has to be some scantily-clad enchantress wandering
around Bartertown.” She leaned closer him. “So, if you want me to spend even one
more hour in a land without potato chips, Variety , and tampons, tell me why you’re worth taking a chance on. Why should the rebels and I vote Team Slade?
Convince us. Convince me .”
Slade
angled his jaw at the challenge and turned back to the rebels. They didn’t
seem to know what to do now that the music had stopped. Aside from more scattered
calls of, “Eleven men enter. One man leaves,” the whole army was silently
waiting for them to finish their argument. Why wouldn’t they? It wasn’t like
they had storylines of their own to worry about. They were just the red shirts
who died in the trenches, while the stars preened at center stage.
“I
will not fight in the Cage.” Slade declared, brushing passed the feathered
guy. “Neither will any of you. Today, we begin anew.”
That
line sure as hell hadn’t been in the script. “What?” Chicken Man squawked.
“Wait, you can’t…”
Slade
ignored that and stepped up on the wooden platform
only choose to remain at my side.” He whispered. “I want you to like me, Jane.”
She
did like him.
Shit.
Why the hell would she like such a lunatic? It was an even stupider idea than
the rebels building a cage and wanting them to participate in the Seventy-Sixth
Annual Hunger Games. No possible good could come from sticking with Slade and
she was smart enough to know it. So why wasn’t she running for the hills?
Maybe
she was still drunk.
“I’m
not worried that you’ll hurt me. Not like that.” Jane shook her head,
breaking the spell. “Look, I won’t help a king unless he’s fair to everyone in his kingdom. Even the unbilled peasants. These extras are the ones
suffering and they should have some say in the story.”
Slade
stared down at her for a long beat and Jane felt her insides dip. As much as
she should run away from the lunatic, she could seriously get used to the way
he looked at her. Slade might be actively working to ruin her life, but he watched
Jane like she was the only thing that could save his.
The
dance number ended with a dynamic flourish of random fireworks. Confetti
drifted down from someplace. The music crescendoed and the rebels all stopping
in “ta-da!” poses, like they were expecting thunderous applause.
Jane
and Slade ignored them.
“You
will help me?” He sorted through her statement and came up with the one part
that interested him. “ Really help me? With no more angrily sitting at
bars or slipping away when my back is turned?”
“I
never tried to sneak away. I just threatened it. In fact, when you were in
trouble, I came looking for you. I’ve been pretty damn helpful so far, buddy.
I’m even wearing this ugly bracelet without complaint.” She held up the
anti-Werewolf accessory, even though she kinda had been complaining
about the damn thing.
A
lot.
“But,
you are not yet committed to our journey.” Slade clarified. “I feel like you
are just looking for an opportunity to leave me.”
Probably
because she was . The Vampire did his best to hide it, but he wasn’t a total moron. “Tell me why I should stay, then.” Jane arched a brow. “Why should I
follow you?”
“Because
you wish Allandrina to send you back to your gloomy world and I am going to
marry the woman.”
The
reminder of Slade’s princesses didn’t improve her mood. “Not good enough.
I’ve met you. I figure there’s only a fifty/fifty shot of this girl
being dumb enough to say ‘I do.’ I don’t like that kind of risk.”
“You
seem to dislike all risks.”
“Because,
I’m not an idiot. And the smart money says I can hire a Witch easier than I
can take over a kingdom. This is a fantasy movie and fantasy movies love Witches. There has to be some scantily-clad enchantress wandering
around Bartertown.” She leaned closer him. “So, if you want me to spend even one
more hour in a land without potato chips, Variety , and tampons, tell me why you’re worth taking a chance on. Why should the rebels and I vote Team Slade?
Convince us. Convince me .”
Slade
angled his jaw at the challenge and turned back to the rebels. They didn’t
seem to know what to do now that the music had stopped. Aside from more scattered
calls of, “Eleven men enter. One man leaves,” the whole army was silently
waiting for them to finish their argument. Why wouldn’t they? It wasn’t like
they had storylines of their own to worry about. They were just the red shirts
who died in the trenches, while the stars preened at center stage.
“I
will not fight in the Cage.” Slade declared, brushing passed the feathered
guy. “Neither will any of you. Today, we begin anew.”
That
line sure as hell hadn’t been in the script. “What?” Chicken Man squawked.
“Wait, you can’t…”
Slade
ignored that and stepped up on the wooden platform
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