Page 89 of Blood Ties

“You’ve accepted its bed and food.”

“That was survival.”

I kissed her because the argument deserved an ending. Bryony leaned into me and let the sword rest against the wall. The kiss stayed slow, although her fingers gripped my side when my tongue met hers.

Holding her eased the strain in my chest. Hunger remained present without pushing at my control, and the discomfort that had followed her closed bedroom door disappeared. Her nearness made the connection easier to bear.

I lifted my head. “Walk away from me.”

Bryony’s eyes narrowed. “You’re going to have to improve the timing of that request.”

“I want to test the court.”

“That’s less insulting.” She collected the sword and crossed the room.

Pressure gathered behind my ribs after she passed the fireplace. It increased as she reached the open doorway, yet it carried none of the pain from earlier. I still knew where she was and how fast her heart beat. The awareness settled as soon as she stopped moving.

“Stay there,” I said.

Bryony rested one shoulder against the doorframe. “Far enough?”

“A little farther.”

She took another step.

The pressure increased, and her smile faded when she felt it through the connection.

I held out my hand.

“Come back.”

This time, the request was entirely personal.

She returned without another joke. The pressure eased with every step, and her hand found mine again. I drew her close enough to kiss her temple.

“Distance makes the connection pull harder,” I said. “Touch settles it almost completely.”

“Does that mean Harrowmere wants us holding hands everywhere?” Bryony asked. “Because I’m happy to stay close when it helps, but I’m not letting this bloody place turn it into another rule neither of us chose.”

“It isn’t a rule. You can walk away whenever you want, and the discomfort remains manageable. Staying close makes it quieter for both of us, so we use that when it suits us.”

“Good. The house has had enough terrible ideas without adding compulsory hand-holding.”

The lamps brightened in apparent offence.

Another apology wouldn’t help. She needed time and proof, so I accepted the closeness she offered.

“We should find the limit of the collar,” she said. “If Adrian comes through another wall, I’d prefer to know where you’ll stop.”

“I’m becoming concerned about your lack of faith in the walls.”

She glanced at the rubble. “You started it, and you nearly strangled yourself doing it. If that fucking collar reaches its limit while we’re running, I need to know whether it will pull you over or close around your throat.”

“It will tighten first. I’ll have enough warning to stop, unless the Crown takes control again. If that happens, you put distance between us and use the court to suspend the sentence as you did tonight.”

“And if Harrowmere refuses?”

“You leave my reach and keep yourself alive. I’ll fight the collar.”