“You’re doing so well,” Jaxon murmured, whispering the words into her hair as the tug on her soul worsened, tearing at something buried deep within her. “It’s almost over, Starling.”
Araya couldn’t answer. She couldn’t hear anything over thememory of her mother’s screams and the sudden, deafening silence after the human soldier had cut her throat.
“Jaxon,” Kai gasped. “Now.”
Jaxon leaned over, pricking his finger against the needle Kai offered. A single drop of blood welled up—dark and inevitable.
It fell.
The rune on Araya’s hand flared. She cried out, screaming as the bond latched onto her like a trap snapping shut. Hands were on her, holding her down—Jaxon. Strong and reassuring, not the cold, merciless grip from her memories.
“It’s done,” Kai said finally, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
“You did so well,” Jaxon murmured, gathering her into his arms. “It’s over now.”
Araya couldn’t speak, couldn’t do anything but shake in Jaxon’s arms as something foreign made itself a home inside her skin. It pulsed through her veins like a second heartbeat—hisheartbeat.
She shuddered, her breath catching as that foreign pulse settled in beneath her skin. She could feel him there—his power entwining itself with hers until she could no more have ripped it out than she could have cut out her own heart.
She’d chosen this, Araya reminded herself. But her magic rebelled, bucking helplessly against the chain she’d allowed them to wrap around her.
“Bucket,” Kai said.
Someone shoved a bin in her hands just as her stomach heaved, her body wracked with spasms. Araya vomited, again and again, Jaxon’s touch and murmurs of comfort a distant hum against the storm of her memories.
Finally, she had nothing left.
Someone pressed a glass of water into her hands. Araya took a tentative sip, the cool liquid soothing her throat but not the heat curling in her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the present, but her skin didn’t feel like her own, the strange sensation of Jaxon’s magic entwined with hers pulsing beneath her breastbone.
“Araya,” Jaxon’s voice was softer, almost tender, but the underlying steel remained. “Look at me—you’re stronger than this. I know you are.”
“The worst of it should be over.” Kai cleared his throat. “You’ll feel… off for a while, but that’s normal.”
“Great, thank you, Kai—” Jaxon’s tone was clipped. “Can you let yourself out?”
“She should actually be observed,” Kai said, frowning. “At least for the next few hours. What she went through—it was a lot.”
“She’ll be fine,” Jaxon said, his grip tightening on her shoulders. “I can take care of my own bond, Kai.
Kai hesitated. She felt his eyes on her—sharp, searching—but she couldn’t lift her head to meet his gaze.
“She just went through hell,” Kai said. “If anything happens?—”
“If anything happens, I’ll handle it,” Jaxon reiterated, his tone final.
Araya barely heard the soft click of the door closing. Her world had narrowed to the quiet pressure of Jaxon’s thumb tracing slow, calming circles along her jaw. Soothing her.
“It’s done, Starling,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. “You’re mine now. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
“I can walk,”Araya argued, trying to tug her arm out of Jaxon’s grip even as her legs shook.
Jaxon just snorted, half-carrying her down the hallway. He shoved open the bedroom door, lighting the aetherlamps with a flick of his wrist and bathing the luxurious room in a warm, golden glow.
“You’re burning up,” he said, his deft hands already loosening the laces of her dress and peeling the damp fabric of her chemise away from her clammy skin. Araya shivered, goosebumps racing over her skin at the sudden chill.
“I need—” her voice faltered, her gaze catching on that wide, softbed. But Jaxon shook his head, steering her toward the bathing chamber instead.
“I know what you need, Starling.” He turned the tap, sending water rushing into the massive tub. Steam billowed up, fogging the mirrors and filling the room with the sharp, sweet scent of vanilla and spice.
