Chapter 8 · Raven, what did you do?

He pulled. Nothing happened. Their hands stayed locked as if welded together.

The line climbed both wrists.

"Raven, what did you do?"

"I did not do anything."

"You brought this power into the breach."

"You are the one holding my hand."

"Because you trapped it!"

"Then cut it off."

She raised her sword.

Raven caught her wrist before the blade fell. The sword stopped beside his cheek.

Their faces were inches apart. Sweat ran from her temple. A loose strand of hair stuck to her mouth. Raven could feel the heat of her breath against his skin, quick and sharp.

"Move that blade," he said.

"Give me my hand."

"You cut me, we both lose it."

"You don't know that."

"Look at the mark."

The black-and-gold line had reached her elbow. It pulsed with his heartbeat.

Seraphina's eyes dropped to their joined hands.

Raven felt a second pulse under his own skin.

Her pulse.

"That is a tether," she said.

"Sounds romantic."

"It is a death sentence."

"That sounds more like you."

She tried to wrench free. Pain ripped through Raven's arm and punched into his chest. He hissed. Her knees buckled at the same time.

"Feel that?" he asked.