Page 106 of The Alpha King’s Hidden Mute Mate

He looked at me. I looked at him.

"Okay," he said.

My heart jumped.

"I agree," he said, voice hoarse. "I'll sever the bond with her. I'll mark you. Just let her go."

Leah's eyes lit up. Not with joy—with sick, fervent excitement. Her mouth stretched into a smile that turned my stomach.

"I knew you'd agree," she said, voice trembling with victory. "Come on. Let's begin."

Zane stepped closer.

Two steps.

Three.

He stopped less than six feet from Leah.

"I need to get close to her to sever the bond," he said, pointing at me. "Let me through."

Leah hesitated, then nodded. "No tricks."

Zane walked to me, crouched down, reached out, and touched my cheek.

The touch was light, brief. But his fingers trembled.

Then he lowered his head, lips nearly touching my ear, voice only I could hear:

"I'll count to three. Roll left."

I froze.

"What—"

"Trust me."

He stood, turned to Leah.

"I need to touch her forehead," he said, voice calm as discussing business. "Severing the bond requires skin contact."

Leah narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. Then she nodded. "Fine. But I'm watching."

Zane crouched again, cupping my face with both hands.

His thumb gently brushed dust from my cheekbone. Those gray-blue eyes looked straight at me, holding something that tightened my chest—not despair, not surrender, but certainty. A "trust me" certainty.

"One," he said quietly.

I felt his hands trembling slightly.

"Two."

His gaze dropped to my lips, lingered a second.

"Three—"

He shoved me hard to the left. I rolled left, the rope on my wrists—already half-loosened from secretly rubbing against rocks—snapping completely. As I rolled, Zane lunged at Leah like a leopard, grabbing her wrist that held the dagger.