Chapter 14 · It's not a chain

"It's not a chain."

"Everything you offer is a chain."

His face was inches from mine.

I could see the small cut beside his mouth. I could feel his breath against my cheek. His scent wrapped around me, sharp cedar, iron, and the dangerous warmth of a bond neither of us had asked for.

"You don't have to trust me," he said again. "Just stop bleeding alone."

For one stupid second, I stopped fighting.

His thumb moved over my knuckles, careful around the blood.

"You said the pact shares pain," I whispered.

"It shares warning. Pain if it has to."

"That's not better."

"No. It's honest."

"If I agree, you don't claim me."

"I won't."

"You don't take the pup."

"I won't take him from you."

"You don't hand him to your council."

"They won't touch him."

"You don't tell anyone who I used to be."

His eyes sharpened. "That depends on who you used to be."

I tried to pull my hand free.

He held it down.

"You don't get to add conditions after I agree."

"Then don't agree."

"You'd let Cole kill him?"

"No."

"You'd let your own soldiers drag me to the cage?"

"No.