Chapter 57 · The Bond I Choose

"What are you doing?" Dorian's eyes widened as my fingers closed around the seal.

"Taking back my brother's file."

"That seal belongs to the council."

"Then the council can come take it from me."

The metal seared through my palm.

Images punched into my head—collapsed streets, civilians disappearing beneath black smoke, Elias's handwriting smeared across a cracked screen.

Then the vision cut out.

My teeth slammed together.

Dorian caught my shoulders. "Mara. Look at me."

"I'm fine."

"You're bleeding."

"So are you."

"I'm not the one holding disaster residue."

"Then stop touching me."

His hands stayed where they were. Warm. Firm. Too easy to notice.

"No."

The word came out quiet. Final.

For one breath, the plaza vanished.

His body pressed against mine. His thumb rested beneath my jaw, right over my racing pulse. His breath brushed my lips, hot against the broken mark on my chest.

The bond wanted a mark.

Not the old one fate had forced open.

A new one. Chosen. Final.

I shoved him back.

His expression cracked. "You don't have to choose me."

"I know."