“Which is it?” I murmured, the words tight and lethal as my gaze pinned hers in place. Heat rolled off me in waves, and the chill of her skin only fed it.
“Which is what?” she yelled, twisting, and struggling in my grasp. I tightened my grip just enough to make a point. “You demand me to let you go,” I said quietly, “yet you keep stepping close enough for me to catch you.” My lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. “So, choose. Do you want me to release you… or keep you?”
Her frown deepened at the double edge of my words, a line creasing between her brows. She opened her mouth, and I held my breath, eager to hear what she'd say.
“I would like to hear the answer myself.” A silky male voice rang from behind me, and I spun, my sword materializing in my hand. Metallic eyes met mine and that fucking male who had had his hands on my mate stepped forward. My blood thrummed, my grip tightening on the hilt of my blade as another appeared in my other hand.
The male, Atticus I thought his name was, smiled. He was wearing that stupid black uniform, his golden buttons covered in splotches of blood.
“Xavier,” Zara whispered, and I turned my head, keeping one eye on the male. Zara was pale, her hands outstretched as if she were going to tame a wild animal. “He can manipulate—”
“Don’t speak.”
Zara’s mouth clamped shut, her teeth clashing in a brutal snap as her eyes went wide. I opened the door through our bond as hot rage and panic rushed through it, the intensity of it making me growl.
“What is it, Zara? Tell me.” The words tumbled from me in a panic, and I squared my shoulders at the male who was laughing.
No, no, no. She promised, she said she would take the compulsion away—no, no no.
What compulsion?I snarled through our bond, my eyes staying fixed on the male who dared take another step toward us.
Atticus smiled, running his hands through his chin-length dark hair.
“She didn’t tell you?” the male chuckled, slamming his gaze into Zara’s and tilting his head. “Maybe there is hope for us yet, baby.”
She made a muffled noise, and I tore my gaze away from the male, back straightening as I watched Zara try to open her mouth to speak, but couldn’t. The disgust I felt from her made my stomach churn.
What is wrong?
She made it so that I have toobeyhim,Zara snarled in my mind, and as she tried and failed to open her mouth again—I saw red.
I shadowed in front of him, my blade striking forward, and Zara’s panicked warning sounded in my head, but it was too late.
He can manipulate metal! Put up a shield!
The blade in my hand turned to liquid, melting and slipping through my fingers. Something else clawed into me, and a gasp escaped me as I cried out in pain, falling to my knees. It felt as if every nerve in my body was being pulled and clawed towards the surface, trying to break free from my skin.
I fell to my hands and Atticus let out a cruel laugh. “That beastly form of yours makes you quite the easy target. Easy to track, too.”
Pushing past the pain, I tried to stand but he pushed more of his magic over me and I couldn't hold back the scream as I fell onto my back at his feet. I'd never encountered magic like his before. It didn't exist in Nexia, or at least that I knew of. I just needed to catch my breath. Find an opening.
Atticus turned his attention back to Zara.“Be a good girl, baby, and come over here.”
The cocky male smiled down at me, and I snarled as I watched Zara take a step in his direction. A vine lashed up to grip the male around his throat, but he had a shield in place, and it bounced off it, splintering into pieces from the force.
Shame flooded the bond, and a powerful wave of rage surged through it as she continued her approach. Atticus reached for her, and I snarled, then cried out again in agony as he tugged on my veins, the pain excruciating. Zara slapped his hand away, and Atticus growled.
“Don't move.”
Zara’s body stiffened and bile rose in my throat.
“Morgana might have adjusted our agreement,” he said, clearly displeased at whatever this change was. “But you still have to do what I say,” Atticus added, locking eyes with me as he delivered his parting shot. “Just not behind closed doors… anymore.” A smirk played on his smug face, his eyes glinting with amusement as he ran a fucking hand down my mate's cheek.
I exploded.
Shadows ripped through the air, and the male balked, taking a few staggering paces back. His grip on his magic stalled, allowing me to break his hold and get a shield up between us. I shattered his shield and wind slammed into his chest, sending him flying through the air, crashing somewhere deep in the forest.
I got to my feet, grabbing onto Zara. She was trembling, shaking, and I had never sensed fear like this in her before.“What is he talking about, Zara?”
