Chapter 13 · You'll do whatever I tell you to do

"You'll do whatever I tell you to do," Sela countered, her voice turning sharp as a razor. She gripped his hair, yanking his head back so he had to look at her. "Because the second you step out of line, I won't kill you. I'll just hand you over to the marrow-hunters. I wonder how much they'd pay for a forbidden bone? You'd be a gold mine, Cain. A very loud, very screaming gold mine."

Cain clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He could feel the Devouring Bone inside him pulsing, reacting to her proximity. It didn't want to flee; it wanted to consume. It wanted to tear through her armor and feast on the purity of her rank. He fought the urge, forcing the darkness back down into his marrow.

"I'll play your game," Cain said, his voice cold and void of emotion. "For now."

"Good boy," Sela murmured. She let go of his hair, but she didn't move away. She stayed in his personal space, her eyes scanning his face as if searching for a lie. "Now, let's see if you're actually useful. Or if you're just a waste of my time.