“Yes, I do,” I reply matter-of-factly. “No amount of bouncing on my dick is going to sever my bond with Vivian. It's literally in my blood. Written in the damn universe.”
“Well, maybe if I remove your blood?”
“Now I know you're screwing with me. Not even you could be that stupid.”
She pinches the skin on my stomach in retaliation, and I flinch back against the pain. Then she hisses, “You know there are ways to break that bond.”
“No,” I reply calmly. “There are rumors and mythical legends that have never been proven.”
She sits up straight, holding her hands out in front of her, and my eyes narrow as her golden bracelets glint at me. She taps them together, and that glowing string appears between them, an involuntary shiver running over me at the sight. She pulls her hands wide, stretching that string as far as her wingspan allows,and then brings her hands back together again so it hangs low, just shy of touching my chest. “Do you know what this does?”
I raise my brows but keep my eyes focused on that glowing line as I respond, “Pretty sure I had it wrapped around my neck recently.”
A sharp bark of laughter draws my attention to her face. She smiles slyly. “Oh, yes. But that's only the beginning.”
My breath catches as the string brushes against my chest, a burning ache immediately erupting on my skin. She raises her hands, moving them over until the hanging line is positioned right over my heart then lowers it again.
This time, when it touches my skin, instead of pooling like it should, it sinks in, disappears, and then pain erupts within my chest cavity. Agony blooms, starting in my heart then pushing outward with every heartbeat.
I attempt to push back, but it's of no use, and that thread keeps moving, moving, moving, absorbing into my body with a pain so great I choke on my own screams.
She leans over, her hands pressing against my shoulders, her face right in front of mine, her self-satisfied expression swims before me. “You're mine now. I own you. I control you. Even if that bond is still there, it'll just be another way to torture you.”
I grind my teeth, wanting to shout my denials but incapable of making any sounds through the fire coursing through my veins. Her lips flutter against mine briefly, then her palm taps me on the cheek twice as she whispers, “I'm going to so enjoy watching you kill her once and for all.”
Even as my mind screams denials, I feel my motor functions being taken over by the golden fire in my brain and my veins, seeping out my pores. My normal iridescent vision blurs, darkens.
Gemma moves off me without further comment. And then, when she's standing beside the altar, she motions to her peoplenearby who immediately start pulling at the bonds around my wrists, my ankles.
Even after I'm released, I don't move. In my mind, I jump up and crush her skull with my bare hands. But on this plane of truth, I lie there, immobile. Waiting.
“Sit up,” she commands.
As if on autopilot, I slowly sit up and then, again, I wait.
“Turn, put your feet on the floor.”
I do as I'm told. Without hesitation, without question.
She smiles at me rather fondly, her head doing a happy little bob. “Stand.”
I stand.
She closes the distance between us, almost brushing against my front as she leans in. “And the best part is that you're going to know what you're doing and not be able to stop yourself.”
I go to speak but end up gritting my teeth instead. I have no words. My heart is lead in my chest. Everything numbs, and my entire focus goes to Gemma.
She steps back, giving me a once-over before finally saying loudly, “Retrieve the Devil's sword and then use it to kill Vivian Jones.”
I straighten, my head lifting until I'm staring across the room, all of my senses focused on the instructions given to me.
And then I wait.
THIRTY-FOUR
TILTED AXIS
Vivian
