Nothing is pulling me towards Leon. The bond between us is gone.
Well, that confirms my earlier suspicions. The only way to break a Keeper bond is in death, which means that now, I must be a Creator.
Yet another job I didn’t apply for, but at least I’m no longer being magically forced to want this man. That is no small victory. Right now, that iseverything.
Leon tsks at my response to his touch and mutters, “Still so stubborn.”
He cocks his head to the side and smirks before lifting his hand to pull at something invisible between us. Instantly, I feel a tug, like he’s just pulled a thread that is tethered somewhere deep within my mind. A feeling ofwrongnesssettles over me at the intrusion.
I jerk back. “What the fuck was that?”
At the same time, I mentally take stock of my body, searching for whatever is inside me. But instead of finding whatever just pulled on my mind, I feel something else. There’s a heaviness around my neck.
A collar.
The same collar, I realize, that is imbued into all Creators and Destroyers, to contain our power unless our Keeper unlocks it.
Is Leon my Keeper? There’s no way. Hades said that the Keeper power couldn’t exist with the Creator power, so I don’t think Leon, a Destroyer, could hold it either.
Leon’s smirk turns cruel. “Now, now. As the embodiment of light and creation, you can’t be using that filthy language, Vivian.” His tone drips with condescension.
Rage ignites within me, and I open my mouth to tell Leon to fuck off – only to choke on air. The words refuse to leave my mouth. I struggle for a moment before swallowing them back down. My panic resurfaces. “What did you do?” I choke out in a harsh whisper.
Sighing, Leon shakes his head. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with, my love. Need and Isimply decided that given your… difficulties accepting your fate, you couldn’t be trusted to make your own decisions. We had a leash built, especially for you. It binds your will to mine, so I can ensure you act accordingly.”
My stomach drops. I don’t bother trying to mask my horror.
Not this. Not again.
Despite breaking the Keeper bond, my worst fear is back. Leon has control of my mind. My palms start to sweat, and my panic continues to grow, tightening around my neck.
Leon rolls his eyes. “Now, Vivian, don’t give in to your propensity for dramatics. Truly, there is no reason to be afraid. This is only a temporary measure.” In a gentler tone, he adds, “Once you’ve fully accepted your role as a bearer of light and creation for the Council, we’ll revisit removing the leash. But for now, it’s necessary, while I try to undo whatever brainwashing Morgana did to turn you against me.” He says the last part imploringly as he once again moves to stroke my cheek.
I don’t hesitate. I take a swing at him. This man will never touch me again.
He must expect my response, because he catches my wrist, and his grip is painfully tight. “This behavior will not be tolerated, Vivian. You will not try to hurt me, and you will not recoil from my touch.”
Despite his surge of anger, he still manages to speak to me like he’s an adult instructing a toddler. Mentally, I tell him to go fuck himself, as I try to dig my nails into his hand.
My arm goes limp.
I stare at it, horrified, and a tightness settles over my chest. Sucking in another breath, I try to command my body to recoil, to lash out, anything!
Nothing happens. My breaths start to grow shallow and rapid. It’s like I’ve been locked inside myself, forced to do nothing as someone else wears my skin. Instead, I watch helplessly as Leon lays a gentle kiss on my palm, just above where the key to his collar was once imbued.
My mind is screaming to escape his touch as he continues kissing up my arm, drawing me closer to him. Black rings form at the edges of my vision, and pure, unadulterated terror starts to take over.
“Please. Please, Leon. Please don’t do this. Don’t force your touch on me again. Ican’tdo it again. Please,” I croak out, holding back a sob.
If he forces himself on me, I think I might break completely.
Leon’s expression softens as he takes in my fear, but rather than releasing me, he pulls me against him. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I’m forced to do nothing. His once comforting warmth sends ice through my veins.
It’s wrong. So very wrong.
Leon notices how rigid I am, and his grip only tightens as he starts stroking my hair. “Now, now, pet. We both know you liked my touch before. I felt you through the bond. You begged me to touch you.”
Tears stream down my cheeks. Refusing to look at him, I turn to stare out the window. It’s pitch black outside, and a distant part of my brain is surprised Ican’t see any kind of illumination from the city beyond the castle grounds. The glass is patterned, and there’s just enough light in the room for me to make out the image. It’s of a woman kneeling before a man, staring up at him with open adoration. She has long red hair, while the man has shoulder-length blonde hair.
