Chapter 21 · The Brand's Burn

"Let go."

Cain caught my wrist before my fingers touched the door.

His grip wasn't hard enough to break bone.

It was hard enough to remind me he could.

"You lied," he said.

I twisted against him. "About what?"

He stepped closer. His breath brushed my cheek. His eyes dropped to my mouth, then snapped back to mine.

"That pause you made. That little hitch in your breathing." His thumb pressed against my pulse. "You do it when you're hiding something."

"Maybe I was trying not to breathe on you."

"Try harder."

He dragged me away from the door.

The blood-bond tightened beneath my skin like a wire pulled hot. Heat flashed up my arm, answering his touch.

My body reacted before my pride could stop it.

I dug my heel into the stone. "I said let go."

"And I heard you."

"Then why are you still holding me?"

"Because you're about to run."

"Maybe I am."

Cain shoved me against the carved wall.

The impact knocked the air out of me. His arm slammed into the stone beside my head, trapping me without touching my throat.

Too close.

His chest nearly brushed mine.