Chapter 17 · The Bond's Price

Cain’s hand clamped around my wrist before I made it three steps from the altar.

“Let me go.”

The bond snapped tight between us. Heat tore up my arm like a chain dragged through fire, then yanked me backward.

My shoulder slammed into Cain’s chest. His other hand caught my waist before I hit the stone.

“Let go,” I said.

“You tried that already.” His breath brushed my hair. “You got six feet.”

“I walked six feet.”

“You walked six feet because I let you.”

I drove my elbow back.

Cain caught it.

Of course he did.

His fingers closed around my forearm. Hard enough to hurt. Not hard enough to bruise.

That was Cain’s favorite trick. He always knew exactly how much force to use. He could break me. He just wanted me to remember that he could.

“Move,” I said.

“Where?”

“Anywhere you aren’t.”

His mouth tilted near my ear. “You’re welcome to try.”

I planted my boot against the cracked stone and shoved.

The bond reacted before my muscles did. Pain flashed from my wrist to my ribs.