Chapter 33 · He released her like her skin had burned

He released her like her skin had burned him.

Mara grabbed his hand before he could retreat.

"No," he said.

"You’re losing control."

"Let go."

"Not happening."

"Mara, let go."

The darkness crawling up his wrist stopped beneath her fingers. His breath broke. For the first time since she’d met him, Rhys looked afraid.

She tightened her grip.

"There," she said. "It listens when I’m close."

"That’s exactly why you need to let go."

"You said it was eating through your control."

"It is."

"Then why did it stop?"

"Because you’re feeding it."

"I’m helping you."

"You’re making it want more."

His hand jerked, trying to pull free.

Mara held on with both hands now. His palm was hot against hers. Their fingers locked. The blue contract mark on her wrist flared, and a matching line burned across his skin.

"You want to walk away?" she demanded. "Fine. Tell me how. Tell me how to break this without killing us."

"I don’t know."

"Liar."

"I said I don’t know."

"You always have an answer."

"Not for this."

The darkness under his skin pulsed.