The ebon chain is punishing me for daring to run, each wave of pain more intense than the last. My vision blurs and I claw at the ground, trying to pull myself forward despite the agony tearing through me.
The world tilts and I feel him before I hear him.
“That was stupid,” Kade says, his voice cold and cutting. His hand grabs the back of my collar and he hauls me into the air. “Did you really think you could run from me? Did you think a weave formed with my blood would be breakable?”
He spins me around before he plants me on the ground. His hands clench into fists, his jaw is tight and the energy radiating off him makes the air crackle with tension.
“I had to try.”
My body trembles from the aftershocks of the ebon bond’s punishment and from the furious stare he’s bringing to bear on me. His lips curl into a humorless smile and there’s no amusement in his smile. Kade is livid and I’m unsure if it’s his anger pouring into our connection or the other way around.
“You’re not going anywhere, Zara,” he growls, his tone low and dangerous. “Not unless I let you. We’re stuck like this and it’s all your fault. Get used to it. Get used to me. Get used to meeting my demands.”
“I hate you,” I whisper, the words trembling but true.
“I hate you too,” he replies, stepping closer until he looms over me. “It doesn’t change a damn thing. Now kiss me and pray it’s enough to satisfy the bond.”
I arch my eyebrow as he lowers his head. “What if it’s not?”
“Then I’ll be forced to fuck you again.”
I roll my eyes and plant a quick kiss on his lips, disgusted with the taste of earth and damnation lingering there. Kade growls and grabs my head, pulling me into him as he kisses me wildly, demanding I submit to his dominance and let him claim my mouth. He’s too powerful to withstand, and I moan into his mouth, letting him have his way as our tongues play with each other and my skin crawls in discomfort.
“Better,” he rasps, panting as he breaks our kiss. “Let’s get you clean. This time you’ll strip. This time, I won’t take my eyes off you for a single goddamn second. This time, you’ll behave and when we’re done, we’ll go back to that cave and if you’re a very good girl, I’ll let you curl up against me and get some sleep.”
“I’d rather die than sleep on you.”
“You said that about fucking me and look how that turnedout,” Kade says, pulling me behind him again. “You’re going to wash and get some sleep, and then we’ll figure this out. Try to escape again, and you’ll be dealing with more than the blood weave’s wrath. I’ll be punishing you myself, and I assure you, I’ll do far worse than anything that bloody bond could do to you.”
