Knox lunges and Cruz vanishes down the hall, laughing.
Ari kicks the door shut with her boot.“Ignore him.He has twin issues.”
Knox mutters something violent under his breath, and I can’t help but smile.
Krishka sets the black case on my coffee table.“Before anyone eats or threatens relatives, we need to test the decoy collar with the completed protections.”
The warmth in the room dies, and Knox moves closer to me.This time, I let his hand settles at the small of my back.It’s no longer even a question.Not because he assumes, but because I lean into him first.
Everyone notices, But no one comments.
Smart women.Though Ari comments.Sort of...Her eyes go shiny, and she turns away abruptly.“I’m opening pastries.”
Akasha pretends not to smile while Krishka opens the case.The fake collar lies inside on more fucking black velvet.What is it with monsters and black velvet?
It looks identical to the real one.Silver, delicate, and cruel.A pretty lie meant to make monsters think I have been returned to their control.
My throat closes, and Knox’s hand spreads against my back, warm and steady.Not holding me in place but steadying me.
I breathe.
One.
Two.
Three.
“It’s fake,” I say before anyone else can.
Knox’s fingers flex once against my back.“It’s fake,” he repeats.
I step toward the case, and his hand falls away immediately.I instantly wish it didn’t.So I reach back without looking and take his hand.The bond flares hard enough to make my knees feel strange, and Ari makes a small squeak.
“I’m fine,” she says when everyone looks at her.
“No one asked,” Krishka says.
I pick up the collar with a shaking hand.Knox’s stands fast, but the bond tells me what his body hides.Rage.Fear.A protective instinct so enormous it presses against my ribs from the inside.
I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back carefully.
Krishka gestures to the collar.“It will react to the spell-word.Say it.”She hands me a piece of paper.
“Mordane.”
The silver warms but doesn’t burn me.A white pulse moves through the hinge.
Akasha nods.“Good.”
“And if someone else tries to activate it?”I ask.
Krishka’s smile turns wicked.“They scream.”
“Good.”
Knox’s growl sounds approving this time, and I glance up at him.“You liked that.”
“I like anything that hurts people trying to hurt you.”
