Page 25 of The Bonds of Indigo

Closing my eyes, I bite down on the inside of my cheek that split open earlier. The sting sends a wave of tears up behind my lids.

“I wonder if you regret not letting me die that day…” My voice cracks, rough and uneven. “You still lost me in the end.” A shudder leaves my chest. “Just don’t forget about me, no matter how long I’m here. I promise I’m worth not forgetting.”

My head feels light and hollow. The edges of my vision fade as I drift into the dark patches that bloom behind my eyelids.

“Just remember I’m still here…”

A loud bang startles me back awake. It caused me to jerk so hard my shoulders popped. It feels like I’d just drifted off before being violently woken again.

Light floods the room, forcing my eyes shut quickly. This is more activity than I’ve had in years, and all I want is for them to leave me the Beyond alone.

Heavy footsteps echo across the floor and I hold my breath. Those steps don’t belong to any of the officers. I’ve only heard them once before, but I’d never mistake them. His left foot drags just enough to sound uneven.

Before I can even try to move, a hand seizes my chin.

I’m slammed back against the wall. My chained wrists above my head rattle as I try to jerk free from them.

“Open your eyes.” Butcher’s voice is different this time—darker, sharper. “Open your fucking eyes, Witch.”

I shake my head weakly. “I don’t need to see⁠—”

“It isn’t a request,” he growls. “Do it, or I’ll cut your lids off.”

Fucking Vayl above.

I knit my brows together, hesitating only a heartbeat before I obey. Slowly, I force my eyes open.

He’s so close that all I can see are his eyes—wide, burning crimson. The light from the doorway is swallowed by his frame, leaving the rest of him a shadow.

He exhales sharply, dropping his hand from my jaw as he leans back. I struggle to keep myself upright on my knees, wobbling, but refusing to fall.

As my eyes adjust, I finally see him.

Vendra help me—why is he covered in blood?

I swallow hard and follow the trail from his eyes to his nose, down to the mouth framed by a neatly-trimmed beard splattered with crimson. My gaze drifts lower, over his chest and torso, where every inch bears evidence of carnage.

Is he here to try and kill me?

His eyes flick down to my lips, which have parted, ready to beg him to try.

“Why can’t I say your name to anyone?” His voice is calm now, but the hate in it still cuts deep.

“Why are you trying to tell someone my name!? It was for you only!”

He narrows his eyes. “If it’s mine, I should be able to do what I want with it. Why can’t I?” “I swear to the Gods, if she’s⁠—”

Wait. His mouth stopped moving…

Oh, fuck.

He groans, irritation bleeding through. “Why can I only say your name when no one can hear it? Or see it?”

My heart lurches. I shake my head, voice unsteady. “Oh no.”

“What?” He quite literally growls out the word.

That feeling earlier— “Was my name smudged with blood?”