Chapter 21 · Third Bloodline

I woke up tasting copper and someone else's rage.

Not mine. Eli's.

The mark on my shoulder burned cold, like frostbite spreading under the skin. I could feel him on the other end of it—smug, waiting, like a fisherman who'd just set the hook.

Karl was across the room. His back against the wall, eyes locked on me. He looked like he wanted to rip his own arm off.

"Amy." His voice was low. Careful. "You need to breathe."

I was breathing. Too fast. My hands were shaking and I couldn't make them stop.

"He's in my head," I said.

Karl didn't move. "I know."

"You knew this could happen?"

"I knew he'd try."

That wasn't the same thing. That wasn't even close.

I pressed my palm against the mark. It pulsed under my fingers, hot and cold at the same time, like touching a live wire wrapped in ice. I could feel Eli on the other side. Not his thoughts, not exactly. More like his presence. His attention.

He was watching me through the bond.

"Can he hear me?" I asked.

Karl's jaw tightened. "Not words. But he can feel you. Your fear. Your anger."

"Good.