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I gasped.

He stopped at once.

The pressure eased as my heartbeat steadied. Each pulse travelled along the chains to his wrists, brightening the red light inside them.

“They’re tied to you,” he said.

I managed another twitch of my fingers.

Stellan lowered his hands. “I won’t pull again.”

He turned his head towards the side door. “Lenora!”

The door slammed shut. White light sealed its edges before he could call again.

I reached for Harrowmere and tried to open it. The Crown closed over the command, holding every lock in place. I could feel the court, but I couldn’t make it answer me.

Stellan looked back at my hand. “I know you’re still there.”

I forced the smallest movement from one finger. He saw it.

No. He had to fight.

I threw everything I had at my right arm. The Crown held it against my side. Pain drove down my neck as the points sank farther into my skin.

Blood slipped behind my ear.

Stellan’s fangs dropped when he saw it. Rage hit the bond, hot enough to burn through the cold for a second.

My hand jerked free.

I grabbed the Crown and pulled.

The points drove deeper. The woman’s will slammed through my head, and my vision went white. I stayed conscious while my body arched against the pain.

“Let go,” Stellan said. “You’ll tear it through your skull.”

My fingers wouldn’t release it. I couldn’t obey him or the presence controlling the rest of me. I was trapped between both commands with my own hand locked around the metal.

Stellan crossed the space the chains allowed. They tightened before he could reach me.

“Bryony.”

I fought for control of my eyes. The presence wanted the throne, Stellan and every order his blood could carry. It didn’t care where I looked.

My gaze found his.

His fear was clear. So was the trust he had given me when he knelt by choice.

“I know this isn’t you,” he said.

The Crown dragged my hand away from the metal and placed it in my lap. I tried to claw my palm, bite my tongue or use any pain that might break its control. My body sat still while blood ran down my neck.

Stellan tested one chain with a slow pull. Pressure touched my heart again, and he released it.

“The vault has records,” he said. “Lenora can reach them. We’ll find a way to get it off.”

I wanted to tell him the woman inside the Crown could feel every fear I had. She knew I would endure pain for him. She knew he would stop fighting the chains to protect me.