Chapter 34 · The Forest's Trap

"Stay. Right. There." Kane's voice hit the dungeon harder than any shout. Justin flinched on the floor, but Kane never looked at him. His glowing eyes stayed locked on me.

The power I'd used to crush the High Guard still burned through my veins. Then Kane stepped into the cell, and the blood-bond snapped tight.

My knees nearly buckled.

"Don't move," he said.

"You don't give me orders." I forced my legs to hold. "Not after I saved us both."

Kane crossed the blood-slick stones. His boots stopped inches from mine. Cold ozone clung to him, mixed with old parchment and metal sharp enough to cut.

His gaze dropped to my trembling hands.

"You call that saving us?"

"Justin was about to take my head off. I improvised."

"You overrode my command."

"And you're welcome."

His jaw tightened.

Good. At least he could still be annoyed.

Kane lifted one hand and brushed his thumb across my lower lip. The touch was light. His skin wasn't. Heat traveled through me, and my breath caught before I could stop it.

His eyes sharpened.

"You're shaking."

"I'm not."

"Liar."

"Control freak."

A dark laugh rolled through his chest.