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“He is not going to let me go, Kaelen.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You don’t.”

“Whatever he promised you is a lie.”

Kaelen looked at me for a long moment. Then he said, “That’s the part you don’t understand. Maybe. But even if, I’m fine with that too. I know he might have decided what he’s going to do to you anyway.”

“Then… why?”

“Because if it changes at least one thing, I have to do it. If there’s only a chance…”

“Kaelen—”

“If severing you makes him hesitate for a week, I’ll do it. If it gives you three days, I’ll do it. If it gives you one night when he thinks you’re less dangerous than he thought, then maybe that is one night we can use.” His voice had gone rough. “And if destroying this bond gives you even the smallest advantage over him, I’m willing to destroy it.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me. I am a part of this bond.”

“So am I. And I have a right to this choice.” His nostrils flared.

I shook my head. “Stop. Just stop. This is stupid.”

“It isn’t stupid to me. It can buy you some time. Did you even think about that?”

“You’re giving him exactly what he wants from you and calling it a strategy. I can handle him!”

His head turned sharply back toward me. “No.”

The word was so immediate that it hurt more than I expected.

I stared at him.

“I can.”

“No, you can’t.”

My chest tightened.

He didn’t believe in me.

But as I stood there looking at him, I realized it was worse than that.

Kaelen didn’t believe in anything.

Not me. Not himself. Not the Council. Not Ironmoor. Maybe not even the bond between us.

The only thing he seemed to believe in completely was his father’s power.

Aldric knew everything.

Aldric anticipated everything.

Aldric always won.

Nothing escaped him. Nothing survived him unless he allowed it.