When I close my eyes, I can hear them moving—whispering. I can feel them slithering across my skin. I allow them to unfurl, their coils drifting into the cell with eerie grace, swirling around Kylian’s neck like a noose.
When they recede, I can see the onyx pendant resting against his tanned chest, the one that was concealed moments ago.
Kylian strains through gritted teeth as I pull the gleaming chain over his head. It feels heavy in my hands. I crack it open and as expected, the star fragment shoots out into the cell, bounding off the walls emphatically.
“Bingo.”
Kylian mumbles something that doesn’t make sense. He tries to move, but only succeeds in trembling, the veins of his neck and arms bulging.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be able to move again in a few hours. I’d get comfy if I were you.” I give his face a loud pat and lock the cell behind me, slipping the pendant over my head and disappearing into the darkness.
104
ZADYN
“Itruly cannot tell if this is a joke or not.” Eaton’s cool eyes assess me.
Oh, how I wish it were.
“It’s not a joke. Their bond snapped into place as we were about to take him out.”
Marideth is pale as a ghost, sitting on the settee beside Dover, too stunned to speak.
“But you two are—” Sorscha trails off, confusion etched on her heart-shaped face.
“Also mates,” I provide. “And yes, we are very aware of how fucked up this is.”
I blow out a long breath, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“It’s incredibly fucked up.” Eaton slides onto the table, tugging Sorscha in between his thighs and snaking his arms around her belly. “But also incredibly useful.”
“Please elaborate,” I drone, massaging my temple. I can already feel the migrainetaking root.
“She wouldn’t let you and Jace hurt him, right? Why?”
“The bond stopped her.”
“Exactly.” Eaton leans his chin on Sorscha’s shoulder. “It works both ways, as you well know, Rhodesie. He won’t hurt her or put her life at risk.”
I understand that. But it doesn’t make me feel any better that she’s down in his cell right now, unaccompanied. But she insisted, and I have to trust her.
“He imprisoned her and nearly starved her to death,” Kai snaps from the corner, breaking his silence. It’s the first he’s spoken since he heard the news. He’s just been staring out the window, unblinking, for the last twenty minutes. I was starting to get concerned.
“Maybe so, but did he ever cause her direct physical harm?”
It would explain why he lost it anytime someone laid a hand on her. Why he chose to use Kai as a whipping boy instead of taking his anger out directly on her. The bond was preventing it.
“The point is,” Eaton continues, “we can use this to our advantage. She’s got him by the balls now. He’s going to want to please her—earn her trust, her favor, her love. So right now he’s more likely to be compliant.”
“I’m not letting her accept this bond just to lord power over him,” I say, sinking into the high-backed leather chair.
“She doesn’t have to accept it, but I wouldn’t run and reject it, either. Their connection could serve as a huge advantage. Just don’t let her do anything rash.”
“I don’t control my mate, Eaton.”
“It’s not the advantage you think it is,” Kai says to the room. Gods, he looks so dejected. “He knows she won’t actually kill him now. He has no reason to be honest with us. He’s just going to bide his time until those shackles are finally off.”
“I think Kai is right.” Mar glances between us. “He won’t say a word unless he’s getting something in return.”
