Free Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole Page B

you’re talking about.”
    â€œDon’t act oblivious!” Spittle flew from Vincent’s lips. “Your line chronicles, just as ours does.”
    â€œI’ve never read my history. I only know fragments.”
    They studied me, must’ve decided I was telling the truth.
    â€œThen we’ll bring you up to speed.” Violet moved beside her brother. “In the last game, we were in an alliance. Until you betrayed us. You trapped me in your vines, but you couldn’t catch my lover. To lure him, you tortured me so savagely—”
    â€œâ€”that I surrendered, to spare my beloved,” Vincent picked up. “I made the choice to sacrifice myself. At least in the end you were true to your word: you dispatched us swiftly enough.”
    â€œEverything we do is because of you.” Violet reached for Vincent,playing with the hair at his nape. “Every move our family makes, we consider you. My father named me Violet because I’m the only flower you’ll never control. Never again.”
    She talked as if I’d . . . formed them? Like they formed new Bagmen. My nausea churned anew.
    Horrifying words leapt to my tongue: I was just playing the game. But I remained silent.
    If their story had been written, I would have been the villain.
    Then I realized it had been written.
    Chronicled.
    â€œWe are choice, Empress,” Vincent and Violet told me in unison. “We are retribution. And we remember . Soon you’ll see. We will love you ever so much.”
    I expected them to clasp hands and swing their arms, but Violet kept playing with his hair while holding that sensor. He continued heating the spoon. When would they reveal their powers?
    My gaze darted to Selena. What did she think about all this?
    She was so close. I needed to give her more time. “I’m different than I was in the last game,” I told the twins. “I’m disgusted by what was done to you. But you’ll still punish me?”
    Vincent flashed a predator’s smile. “In unspeakable ways.”
    Together, they added, “Practice has made perfect.”
    I stifled a shudder.
    â€œYou’ll watch us break and kill the man you love,” Vincent said. “Then we’ll take you and the Archer north, as prisoners of our love. You’ll behold the First with your own eyes—before we take them from you, naturally.” He glanced at Selena; she’d already gone motionless. “By the time you arrive, Archer, your arm will be healed,” he told her. “A blank canvas for the First to transform.”
    How did he know about her arm? Spies? “Why torture Selena? She didn’t do anything to you.”
    â€œThe Archer’s body glows red, the color of bloodletting,” Violet mused. “This fascinates the First. The First will personally torment it.”
    â€œShe satisfies our tastes.” Vincent peeled his gaze from Selena. “You are for retribution.”
    I told him, “That will never happen.”
    â€œHow are you going to stop us? An Empress in a world of ash?” He scoffed. “We expected more of a challenge from you and the others. We heard all your calls as you gathered. But only two faced us? This isn’t fun at all.”
    Violet’s hand descended to rub her brother’s back. “We like games and fun. You’ve given us neither.”
    â€œMore are coming,” I said, bluffing. “The heavy hitters of our alliance. We’re just the opening act.”
    â€œAlliances force choices,” Vincent said. “When to enter into one. When not to honor one. In a pinch, no Arcana will truly be an ally. You just temporarily use each other.”
    My relationship with Death bore that out. But what about Selena dragging Finn home despite her broken bones? “That’s not true. Not anymore. This game is different. We are different.”
    As if I hadn’t spoken, Violet released