Page 108 of Ensnared
I flop back on the bed and shove a pillow over my face. Axel and his stupid demands—learning to kiss. I groan into the pillow.
“It really will be better for you. Ensnared take their position from their blessed, and as Axel’s, I had no choice but to keep you out here. I had to make sure you’d be as safe as possible.”
“That went well.” I can’t help thinking about Ocharta’s first attempt to kill me. And the time I wandered out. And also, her second attempt. Ugh.
“She’s caged now,” he says. “And only because you won’t let me kill her.”
“Wait, can bonds really be passed?”
He shrugs. “Does it matter?”
“If they can, maybe we could pass my mom’s bond to someone else.”
He frowns. “I can’t really ask around. Not since we’ll have to say we’ve already done it.”
I guess not. “Maybe you could say that you’re wondering if we’re the only ones.”
“Liz.” Azar’s eyeing me with that patronizing expression again. “We’ll have to announce this, tomorrow morning.”
“Every day, it’s something new.”
“And for now?—”
I point at the door. “Out. I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted.”
“I’m staying.” He folds his arms.
“You can’t stay.” I’m not budging on this. “I need to sleep alone.”
“We’re entwined,” he says. “That means I need you close.”
“Nice try,” I say.
He shrugs and heads for the door. He’s walking toward the stairs, and suddenly, I’m out the door and padding after him.
“What’s happening?” I hiss.
“I told you.”
“You said we’re entwined.”
“I’ve only heard of it from my father, and even then, there were only one or two mentions,” he says. “But he said that once a dragon and human are entwined, it’s painful to be separated by any significant distance.”
“Painful?” My shoulders droop. “Did he say how to undo it?”
Axel’s lip twitches. “It can’t be undone. I told you that.”
“We’re doomed.”
“There are benefits,” he says.
“Like?” I could use some benefits.
“It increases my power,” he says. “And yours, too.”
“Explain,” I say.
“Essentially, I’ll be faster, stronger, and heal faster, and you will as well. If it used to take you weeks to heal without my help, you’ll be able to do it in hours.”
