Chapter 22 · Do not get used to that

He released her wrist, but only to take her hand. His fingers laced through hers before she could object.

"Do not get used to that," she said.

"I am not planning to."

"Good."

"You are holding on."

Mara glanced down.

She was.

She pulled her hand away. The bond sparked, and pain jumped from her palm to her shoulder.

Rhys caught it again. "Stop fighting the link."

"Stop acting like you own it."

"I own nothing about you."

"You drag me around, give me orders, and decide when I am allowed to breathe."

"That is not ownership. That is keeping you alive."

"You keep using the same excuse."

"Because you keep trying to die."

"I have never tried to die."

"You ran into a live rift with a damaged spell mark."

"I ran in because you were inside."

The words landed between them.

Rhys stopped.

Mara wished she could pull them back. She could not. Her face felt hot again, and she hated that the fog could not hide it.

His voice dropped. "Why?"

"Because if you died, the contract would take me with you."

"That is not what I asked."

"Then ask a better question."

The barrier shuddered.