Page 197 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
Nobody–nobody–had warned me.
And the man behind me…I let out a mirthless laugh. He was the worst of them.
Damn the gods, old and new, for knotting my fate with his. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, my whole body was so despicably attuned to his. I felt his own hollow heart, the deep chasm opening in him as well.
What right did he have to suffer alongside me?
I squeezed my eyes shut. It was unfair that my body and mind would betray me like this. I wanted to curse Zandyr’s name and fall into his arms at the same time.
I wanted to plead for logic in the chaos, to find excuses and reasons that shouldn’t matter.Couldn’tmatter.
I was trapped. Caged by my own traitorous emotions.
Powerless. I was powerless, just like back in the mountains.
You arenotpowerless.Never were, his voice slithered my way.
“I told you to shut up,” I said. Me, this mountain bumpkin who’d stumbled her way into the arms of the enemy, to the most powerful Clan heir in all of Malhaven.
The gods had indeed blessed me with too much stubbornness.
Seconds passed, the heat of him behind me threatening to make my knees shake again. Blasted ritual. His blood still coated my tongue, beckoning me to him.
“I didn’t say anything,” he said slowly, softly…
And my world crashed around me all over again.
I whirled around, fearful for the first time today, hand to my throat, as if I could suffocate the bond myself if I tried hard enough.
No, a horrific thought entered my mind.
Yes, he said back, straight into my very being, without moving his lips.
The connection between us pulled hard and fast, the cord glowing. His thoughts to mine. His essence in me.
Fated mates. By blood, by divine blessing, and by the wicked humor of the fates.
My knees finally gave out. I steadied myself against the wall behind me.
Zandyr made an instinctual step toward me.
“Don’t!” I yelled, hand raised before me, the only barrier between us. I would push if I had to. I would do so much more if he dared come closer.
He stilled, instantly. Pain twisted his beautiful features, torturing him from the inside out.
Good. Let him suffer as I do.
I didn’t want you to suffer.
Each word beat against me, making my blood sing. This was supposed to be a happy moment.
Fated mates. Perfectly designed for each other. Neither could betray the other.
But he had. Today, he had crushed the trust I’d foolishly placed in him.
I didn’t betray you.
Liar. Traitor. Thief.
