Chapter 17 · The Chain Breaks

"Get away from the stone, Vera."

Rafe's hand clamped around my wrist before my boot crossed the red line.

His command hit harder than his grip. He'd let me take his fortress seal. He'd watched me order his soldiers around. Now the old wolf mark had opened beneath my feet, and suddenly he wanted me obedient again.

I twisted against him. "You don't get to hand me power, then snatch it back when it scares you."

"This isn't power."

"Then why is it answering me?"

The stone split wider.

Red light crawled across the floor and wrapped around my boots. It slipped beneath my skin like hot wire. Burned iron filled my nose. My knees gave out, but Rafe caught me around the waist and hauled me against his chest.

His armor dug into my back. His breath struck the side of my neck, rough and fast.

"Vera. Look at me."

"Take your hands off me."

"Not while the sigil is inside your blood."

That stopped me cold.