Chapter 272

NATALIE’S POV Memphis stood there. He looked at me with a smug look as if he’d come to check on a prize. My stomach dropped before he said a word. “Drink,” Memphis said, like it was instruction, not a request. He held a vial up between two fingers. The liquid inside was red and black, like blood mixed with oil. The small light coming from the stairs made it look alive. I almost vomited at the sight. Another vial. Another poison. Oh no. My hands started to shake before I even reached for it. I hated how my legs answered him. I hated that my feet moved. I hated that everything about me wanted to refuse and that refusing would be useless. His magic could pry it from me, force it down my throat while I screamed. I had learned that lesson the hard way. I took a breath and I lifted a hand to take the vial from him. “Please,” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “Please?” he repeated. “How cute.” I raised the vial to my lip. I forced the liquid down because I had to. Because he was the on