Page 29 of Tell Them That I’m Coming

“It’s nothing.” He moves like he means to turn away.

Surging forward, I catch his wrist.

It’s stupid.

It’s reckless.

It’s—

His gaze snaps to where my fingers wrap around him.

Heat floods up my arm. Not from his skin—though he’s warm, absurdly warm—but from the jolt of contact, the way the bond in my chest reacts like a living thing. I hold onto my essence so I don’t accidentally share it with Thane. Throwing up a block, I refuse to take anything from my mate that he’s not aware he might be giving me in return.

But, still, I maintain the contact between us, stunned when Thane doesn’t pull away.

He looks down at my hand on his wrist, then up at my face. The brightness in his eyes sharpens into something almost hungry.

For one fragile heartbeat, I forget about Rafe, then I hate myself that I did. Nothing can happen until I find him, but if the goldcaps attack again, I finally admit that I need Thane’s help. It’s not because the bond is tugging me toward him… oh, no. I need his sword and his supplies, and to make sure he isn’t hurt.

“You’re bleeding,” I point out stupidly.

Thane glances at his arm like he’s surprised to find the cut there at all. “More gold,” he says. “Does it offend you?”

“It… glows,” I say, because that’s the problem. It’s too beautiful for blood.

Just like Thane’s too beautiful for a halfling who’s in way over her horns.

His mouth twitches, visibly amused which is something considering he’s bleeding more than I was. “It’s not meant to be admired.”

“I’m not admiring it,” I lie.

Binx chitters, pointedly say: You are.

Thane’s gaze flicks to Binx again, suddenly amused. “Let me guess. He tattles.”

“He’s honest with me,” I correct.

Thane’s smile turns faintly wicked. “That must be convenient.”

I narrow my eyes. “Are you mocking me?”

“No,” he says, too quick and too smooth. “Just trying to figure out what it means to have a bond.”

Oof. The way he says that… “And you don’t?”

He opens his mouth, but I realize that I don’t want to hear his answer.

“Forget it.” I take a slow breath to steady myself. “We should get out of here before anything else wants to attack.”

Thane doesn’t move. Not yet. Instead, he leans down, scoops a handful of dark dirt, and presses it against his cut without flinching. The gold smears and dulls beneath the grime.

“I don’t want anything tracking us,” he explains.

My gaze sharpens. “Something tracks blood?”

“In these woods?” He straightens. “Everything.”

Binx makes a small, disgusted noise, pressing closer to my neck. I adjust my sleeve, glad that the blood’s not seeping through the black fabric, then glance at Thane’s arm again.