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“I’m bleeding.” The words left her in a breathless, disbelieving whisper.
Valus barely spared her hand a glance. “You’re fine.” He sighed as if speaking to a petulant child. “Nobody’s died from the mating oath.”
Yet his hand was neatly bandaged.
Peri pushed herself upright, unsteady but determined. The potion had dulled the worst of the dizziness, but she still felt untethered. “I’m getting myself a bandage.”
She made it to the doorway of her closet before his grip clamped around her wrist.
Peri stiffened.
Valus wasn’t looking at her—he was looking at the bracelet Wisteria had given her on Winter Solstice.
“Where did you get this?”
She blinked. “Wh-what?”
“This bracelet.” His fingers tightened. “I would recognise it anywhere.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Are you fucking Wisteria?”
She stared at him, caught between incredulity and a laugh that might have been a sob. “I am not in a relationship with Wisteria.” Her voice cracked. “Besides… she’s gone.”
“Were you?” he pressed, his grip bruising.
“Obviously not!”
Valus scoffed. “Don’t lie to me, Peri. I know what this bracelet means.” His garnet skin darkened with fury, eyes burning with something close to disgust. “I would know it anywhere.”
Her heart pounded. “I don’t know what you think it means, but I bought it ages ago.” The lie tumbled from her lips. Frantic. Desperate. “Nobody gave it to me.”
Valus laughed—cold and sharp.
“You know how I know you’re lying?” He yanked her wrist up, forcing her to look at the delicate runes etched into the bracelet’s surface. “These were made by Wisteria. Specifically for Vega. So they could sneak around together in the Rune Circle.”
Peri’s stomach twisted.
“I caught Vega sneaking out one night,” Valus continued. “She sobbed her whole sick story to me, as if I’d help her.” His lips curled. “I ripped this bracelet from her arm just like I’ll rip it from yours. You should know better. You both should have known better.”
Then his other hand gripped her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Peri flinched.
“When did you become so rebellious?” His voice was almost mocking. “Sneaking out to parties, relationships with demonesses… I thought you were a good little thing.”
Her chin ached under his grasp, but she refused to look away.
“I know all about your little sorceress disguise,” he murmured. “I know everything you did that night. Did you really think you could keep your secrets from me?” His thumb traced her cheek almost absentmindedly. “Your future mate?”
He searched her eyes—for what, she didn’t know.
But if he thought she had been with Wisteria, then he didn’t know everything about that night. That knowledge tightened around her heart. Peri met his gaze with quiet defiance.
Valus sighed, shaking his head. His grip loosened—no longer bruising, but still possessive.
“Come,” he murmured, as if this were inevitable. “I’ve brought the Fidelity Berries to better help you remain faithful.” He lifted his hand, as if offering some twisted kindness.
“Let me feed you.”
His lips quirked into something almost gentle.
