Malum

I reach for his hand, stopping his movement. “I understand, Daemon. I will do anything you need me to do, okay?”

He nods and then drops his hand. The phone he’s holding lights up and he quickly answers it, speaking in Latin.

Tinker comes closer to me. “Nate is going to be angry, Tillie, but only because he doesn’t know how to harness his feelings. There’s so much that you don’t know about yourself and your lineage of family. So much you have to learn, even train in, things that if you allow it, Nate could train you in. You can’t fight this lifestyle, Tillie. Don’t do what Madison did and ignore the signs, or not ask the questions. You, your family, you hold power in this world. Take that power by the balls and own it.”

“What are you talking about, Tinker?” Maybe she has finally lost the screws that were loose inside of her head.

She offers me an apologetic smile, though I’m not sure what she’s apologizing for. “It’s not my place, but truth is coming and when you reign, it’s going to cripple the system.”

Before I can ask what she is talking about, Daemon cuts in. “It’s done. They will gear up.” Daemon’s eyes come to mine, and my grip around my baby intensifies. He notices. “I promise, Tillie. I won’t let harm come to her.”

My throat swells as a single tear falls from my eye and rolls down my cheek, falling to my chest. “Promise?”

Daemon nods. “I promise.”

Daemon leans down, kissing my head. “Have you named her?”

I shake my head, swiping the tear. His hand comes to her cheek as he whispers. “Micaela.”

When the syllables fall from his mouth, I knew instantly that it was done. “Micaela,” I repeat, smiling. I look up to Daemon out of the corner of my eye, my heart thundering in my chest. Daemon and I have had a strange relationship since I’ve been on Perdita. Not sexual, just co

“Do you trust me, Puella?”

“On one condition,” I whisper, slipping Micaela into his awaiting arms. “Don’t die.”

Daemon gives me a small smile, ru

I clear my throat. “Get her back to me safe, and then I’ll answer you.”