Chapter 32 · Break Me First

The blood was everywhere. On Kade's chest, his hands, pooling at his feet where he'd dropped the silver mark he'd just ripped out of his own skin.

The Blood Moon hung fat and red above us, hours too early, and I could feel the bond writhing under my ribs like something alive. Thirty days, Kade had said. Thirty days before it locked.

We were out of time.

"Lena!" Ryan's voice cracked across the clearing. Theron had him on his knees at the edge of the stone circle, one hand fisted in his hair, the other holding a blade to his throat. "Lena, please—"

"Shut him up." Theron didn't even look at Ryan. His eyes were on me, bright with something that might've been triumph or madness or both. "The Moon Door's open. All I need is the blood."

He held up a vial. Small. Glass. I could see the dark liquid inside even from here.

Our blood. Mine and Kade's. Mixed.

"Where'd you get that?" My voice came out steady. I didn't feel steady. The bond was pulling so hard I could barely stand straight.

"Your little hospital visit last week." Theron's smile was all teeth.