a

hey led her out-hazel eyes wide

flickering awareness that had

her

was un

icked shut

er. Or maybe it was just me, u

, her scent still thick in the air-wildflowers crushed u

deniab

burned in

a

o

od groaned beneath my hands, splinters digging in. I welcomed th

ldn't

uldn't

it

met my eyes like she wasn't just prey-but s

ed, blood-hungry be

a pri

n enemy

o

at under my skin-was the familiarity.

For the bond to burn li

before

ate turn

the maps and stir the fire in the hearth. The walls f

bond ha

e was already tighte

nded-sharp.

ame Cassia

at I'd been dreading for years: the bond, and

listened to the soft cr

his arms, unre

wing. No chains, just as you

he's not lik

kno

ter, Rafe. Doria

ened until th

slit my father's throat?" I snapped.

"But your scent's gone wil

jaw clenched. "

et

ade it

know... maybe she

she would

ainty churn

ed down the corridor, boots

to see

Cassian

lizing i had said t

dn't

want to

eded

n the eye and

ing-anything-then the go

cut stone. Her scent was already in the air, curling throug

in pr

lf st

d moved to open it-I waved

ilhouetted in firelight. Her hair was down now-loose waves ove

nding she w

to be a hunte

hear her hea

her

rying to

er knuckles strain. Her jaw set, lips pres

Gauging. C

the door

ike him," I said,

eyes. "I take tha

t offeri

le

o strong, too familiar. It took everything not

she smelled felt like a betrayal. Like the world had

your father did

inch. But she

he screamed before t

arted. Bre

in the trees. Watching smoke r

e stopped. "I

you'r

oose to be his dau

rds hi

d louder-warm,

the crack in her armor. The horror. The

d again. Unwan

asked, stalking closer. Needing to cl

to," she said.

now or di

ious. "I like the forest. I like

her voice pulled

to believe her. Not when t

he daughter of a killer walked into my territory,

le

breath hitched.

hed mine, full

said n

here, like I

e impossible truth stretc

spered,

rough my hair. I sh

asn't

her

e," I muttered. "

. "What did you mea

away. "Fo

ll

n every part of me screamed min

that she's ours, clawing

shouldn't be here. And I don't know wh

eyes one

ght. Her fists

But stan

een easier if

to ha

end her bac

ere-trembling, d

ddess didn'

anted

ven me the p

ure which of us sh

going down wi