Chapter 4 · That's Old Silver Damage

He pressed the needle into the pad of my thumb.

Pain flashed white. I bit down until my teeth hurt, but I didn't make a sound.

The silver pulled out one bright bead of blood. It rolled over my skin and smoked against the needle.

Rayne's pupils narrowed.

"That's old silver damage," he said.

"Congratulations. You can see."

"Who marked you?"

I laughed once. It came out rough. "You already know."

"I want you to say it."

"So you can send Cole a nice report?"

His grip shifted from my hand to my wrist. The chain between us pulled tight. "Answer me."

"No."

The needle touched my skin again. This time, he dragged it along the inside of my wrist.

The pain wasn't deep. That was the worst part. It was slow and deliberate, a warning instead of an injury.

I stared at the collar of his uniform. "You're wasting your time."

"You don't know what I'm doing."

"You're trying to make me afraid."

"Are you?"

"Of you? Not yet."

His thumb pressed against my pulse.

The bond snapped tight.

For one ugly second, I wanted to lean into him.