Chapter 53 · The Core's Demand

"I know what the core wants."

Dorian caught my wrist before my fingers reached his throat.

Black power slid beneath his skin, thin veins twisting up his arm and crawling toward his neck.

"Let go of me." I yanked against him. "Dorian, let go!"

"Not until you listen."

The mark on my wrist flared beneath his palm.

Pain shot through my bones. My knees buckled, and Dorian dragged me against his chest before I hit the floor.

His breath burned against my ear.

"It wants the bond," he said. "The mark keeps trying to close because it connects us to the shield."

"I know what the mark does."

"No, you know what they told you. That's not the same thing."

The black power tightened around his throat.

Dorian's jaw locked. His grip hurt, but he still didn't let go.

"If you sever the bond," he forced out, "the core loses its path."

"Then I'll sever it."

His eyes snapped to mine.

For one sharp second, nothing existed except his body pressed against mine. His hand covered my wrist.