avity itself, drawing every breath, every eye,

es straightening like soldiers caught mid-sin. Even the wind se

way that made my instincts scream. His dark tunic was streaked with

of his jaw like a signature. And his eyes, gods, his eyes, burning gold,

't blink. He looked at m

n... He

is fangs and claw

..." I

ask for

t my

like the air around me turned liquid and hot. Something ancient s

his face, hovering over m

this time in a

arved from stone. The wall

t up, but the

eck, where his fangs had sunk in. I

ark. No.

d for a weapon, but my hands sh

he steppe

dd

ts, and those same unreadable eyes. He shut

straight. "You sho

n't waver. "

remble, but I wa

you do?" I

. "To me. The mark will keep you ali

llowe

you do that

down, then

. "And I don't like owing

My throat burne

n know who I a

ce was

t y

expression. "You came here to die," he said, not as an accusation

nce, like every molecule bent around his will. I clutched the blanket ar

m I?" I

as no cruelty in his voice, just certainty, like he'd already mapped out every move I might make next.

ps and poured something into a goblet from a stone pitcher. His movements were too

ink. "Water. You lo

dn't

poison you after

g," I said. "I don't e

u know. You just don'

tasted like ash and steel. My fingers brushed the bandage around my rib

touch

mute. You'll see

cient. But the tension in his

told me why you m

his face. "The blade they struck you with was cursed. Laced with blood rot. It

cked. "So yo

se sur

ce stretched

y my choice,"

r a heartbeat, then dim

would've b

moment, something fractured in his expression, a fleet

ng, "You have no idea w

o idea who

it the secon

ly. "You're right.

time, rest. The bond will keep us tethered

lose enough that I f

ut down. And I won

, I sat in st

d. My ribs ache

ed to the

have fe

he hollow weight of somet

oor. I stiffened, reaching i

o stepped into the shad

someo

ed over like smoke. The ot

one in the corrid

g to ruin e