Writhing, I realize that’s exactly what he did. Leon burned away half my soul. But he didn’t just burn away Sin, he scorched every last part of me that was intertwined with my mate.
Am I a Forsaken now? Because I know with absolute certainty that in doing so, he broke my soul. He fractured it, irrevocably.
I drag in a staggered breath, even though all I want to do is die – anything to make it stop.
The hand gripping my face disappears, only to start slapping my cheeks. “Wake up. You’ve slept more than enough.” The voice is cold and angry.
I want to sleep forever.
Still, my eyes open against my will.
Leon is leaning over me, his hands resting on either side of my body. He’s caging me against my bed, and his eyes narrow when they meet mine. Any shred of affection that he might have held for me is gone.
Good.
My own stare is defiant, even as a tiny, hopeful piece of me desperately searches inside my chest for any sign of my bond to Sin.
Mate bonds are supposed to be permanent. It can’t be gone, can it?
I find nothing.
My breaths grow shallow and frantic.
“Listen closely, because I will not be repeating myself. Your mate bond to Sin is gone. Any thoughts you’ve had about avoiding your destiny end now. Our wedding celebration has already begun. You will get dressed and attend the party. We will publicly complete our mate bond during the ceremony. You will not speak to guests, and you will do as you are told. If you put so much as a toe out of line, I will remove every remnant of your free will, permanently.” Leon’s voice is void ofemotion, and the mental leash gives a painful tug with each of his orders.
I bite the inside of my cheek, choking back a sob.
“This is how things will be from this moment forward. You are my mate. My wife. My property. You will serve and obey me.” Again, his words ring through the leash.
A small tear escapes, rolling down my face.
“Nymara will be by shortly. She will deliver you to the grand hall. It is customary for the bride to join her future husband at the ceremony. The gesture shows that you are leaving behind your life to devote yourself to mine. We will be wed when the moon is highest in the sky.” He straightens and gives me a final cold look before striding out the door.
The moment the door shuts behind him, a gasp is wrenched from my lungs. The pain I’ve been trying to mask is coming back full force. My chest feels like it’s been torn to pieces, and I wrap my arms around my body in a pathetic effort to hold myself together.
It isn’t working.
This is it.
I tried. I tried so hard.
I failed.
The pain only worsens when I realize Sin might be in the castle. He might already be in danger.
I start shaking as sobs wrack through me.
“Please stay away,”I mentally beg, even though I know he can’t hear me. Because no matter how hard I try to find a hint of our bond, I find nothing.
There’s a soft knock at the door, and I glance over as Nymara enters. She’s carrying a fabric bag, which Iassume holds my wedding dress. As usual, she’s wearing a plain black dress.
I guess she doesn’t need to attend the party.
Lucky.
Her worried gaze sweeps over me as she closes the door and slowly approaches.
I don’t bother moving.
