Breath rattled through my lungs, only to be trapped until stale. For I was set before a magnificent pillar of strength—a source of ki now melded to mine in a way I’d never known possible. The sheer magnificence of the power radiating from the captain blinded me to all else, and I blinked, raising my head to watch him from lowered lashes. Awestruck.
Bound.
Forever.
Tohim.
I sobbed, trying to swallow past the lingering pain in my throat as he hushed me, brushing a sweaty forelock away from my eyes.
The sweet release of darkness beckoned, but before I succumbed, I met his eye. “I hate you.”
Chapter 15
When I woke, it was with a gasp. I was lying on a couch in a dark room, a blanket wrapped around bare shoulders. Feet tucked in.
“Ah, shit. You’re awake sooner than I expected. How are you feeling?”
I flung the blanket off, a flash of gold catching my attention before I could whirl to face the monster who had done this to me.
My new manacles gleamed in the dim light.
A wordless cry burst from my lips as I tried to dig a claw beneath the warm gold—only to stare dumbstruck at my perfect, manicured fingernails.
“I had Alicia trim them while you were sleeping,” he said. “Claws aren’t appropriate for a slave of the Empire, you understand. I still haven’t quite decided what to do with your teeth. But Alicia was able to brush most of the tangles out of your hair, and it shouldn’t be but a few more washings before it returns to its natural color. The dress is Alicia’s doing as well,” he continued, matter-of-fact as if to assure me that he hadn’t done something untoward while I’d been at the mercy of his whim. “Your underthings were… unsalvageable, so…”
Nostrils flared, I scowled at the manacles, not gracing him with an acknowledgment as I lifted the gold with a blunt claw. But there would be no chafing, no getting snagged on clothing, and no itching beneath these bracelets. It was fused with my skin. Almost pliable.
“They’re quite permanent.”
I spun to face the chatty bastard, but tripped on a length of black silk. Dizzy and off balance without ki filling my center, I staggered—only just managing to catch myself before I tumbled face-first into the carpet. With a snarl, I righted myself, fists raised, back pressed to the armrest of the couch.
He was naked from the waist up, hair damp and mussed, his lower half encased in black slacks. I swallowed, hating my beautiful, glittering skinalmostas much as the captain’s stupid, gloating face.
And then I reached for my ki, to destroy him once and for all.
“What—” A strange, choked sound burst from my lips. “What have you done?” I melted against the couch, weak and dizzy, hand wrapped around the base of my throat in an effort to stop the tremble of tears from spilling over. “There’s nothing—” Desperate, I tried to fling my ki wide, trying to get around the captain. “I can’t”—my hands flew to my temples, blunt fingernails grazing my scalp—“it’s gone!It’s all gone!” I cast unseeing eyes around the room, looking for it. Goddess, what magic would allow Glaith to steal everything from me? Everything but… “You,” I snarled, rising again on shaking limbs. “I can’t feel anything—except foryou.”
“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat. “Wearebound. There are certain to be some, ah, minor adjustments.”
Trembling, I pressed a hand to my heart, over the place where I could feel his ki draining mine, leaching my strength like he’d been trying to do for the better half of a decade. A new, stronger link living and breathing behind my ribs.
This one unbreakable.
I dropped low, one foot braced on the arm of the couch, the other tucked beneath me. And, hiking my skirts up, I swallowed against the anguish of so much loss, and said, “Undo it,” in a voice thick and clotted with tears.
He shrugged, buttoning his trousers with a little hop. “Not possible, I’m afraid.”
A whimper splintered on its way past my lips, a cry that fought with the snarl imprinted on my face.
“Breathe,” he cooed, foolish enough to close the distance between us.
With a hysterical shriek, I launched myself from the couch with every spare ounce of strength I yet possessed.
“Holy shi—oomph—” He stumbled back, catching me about the waist with both hands as I wrapped my legs around his hips, leaving my hands free.
My grip settled on his throat, trying to crush the life out of him with sheer force of will. Tears spilling freely down my cheeks to land on his.
But the captain would not be taken so easily, and claimed my wrists in his larger hands, grinding my bones as he twisted them back, away from his airway. “As feisty as ever, my wild little Priestess.”
