Chapter 6 · Bound to the Executioner: Leveling Up With My Enemy - Chapter 6: Fake Death, Real Fall

"Don't you dare move, Vespera," Soren hissed, his voice a low vibration against my ear. He had me pinned against the crumbling stone railing of the bridge, his chest pressing into my back, hard enough that I could feel the steady, lethal thrum of his heart.

Above us, the sky was screaming. Six elite guards were circling like vultures, their palms glowing with that sickly violet hue of execution spells. One wrong twitch and we were both vapor.

"I'm not moving," I whispered, my face mashed against the cold granite. "But if you don't let go of my wrist, I'm going to bite you. I swear to god, I'll do it."

"Shut up and play dead," he commanded. His grip tightened, not to hurt, but to anchor.

I felt the sudden, sharp spike of heat in my chest—the system. A new notification flashed in my peripheral vision, a neon crimson warning: [SINKING SYNERGY: Soul-bond destabilizing. Physical trauma to Host A will reflect 40% onto Host B].

"Great," I muttered. "So if we get blasted, I get a discount on the agony. How generous."

"Vespera!" Soren barked. "Now!"

I didn't wait for a second invitation.