Page 19 of Hallow’s Crown

I hold his gaze, let him see the hunger in mine. He grins, then bares his teeth.

I unbuckle the first restraint, the metal cuff warm from his body. He watches, every nerve taut. I do the next, then the next, until only the leg braces keep him grounded.

“Stand,” I say, stepping back.

He staggers, steadies himself with a hand on my arm. He’s shorter than me, but only just. Easily 6’2. The air between us tightens.

“You gonna hit me, or—?”

I close the gap and take him by the throat. Not crushing, just enough to let him know who’s in control. His pulse is a wild, staccato thing under my fingers.

I say nothing. The moment stretches until he closes his eyes, leans into my grip, and exhales.

I let go, let him drop back into the chair. He laughs, more from relief than anything.

“You want to know what I’m made of?” he says, eyes bright. “Try me.”

I do. I put both hands to his chest, feeling the heart beating through ribs and scars, and push him until the chair almost tips. He grapples back, just for a second, a flash of teeth, and I realize he wants to see how far I’ll go.

So I show him.

I crush our mouths together, teeth knocking, the kiss more brawl than romance. He bites, I bite back. My hands roam, pinning his wrists to the armrest, bruising the skin. His legs wrap around mine, and for a second, there’s no protocol, no hierarchy, just violence and want.

When I pull away, he’s grinning, lips smeared with blood.

“You gonna let me out of here?” he asks, voice hoarse.

“Eventually,” I say. “If you earn it.”

He licks his split lip. “You want me to beg?”

“No,” I say, voice low. “I want you to break. But if you can’t, I’ll take the pieces.”

He nods, as if he understands perfectly.

I step away, watching him like a puzzle I haven’t yet solved.

“Trial’s not done,” I tell him.