Chapter 12 · Leash Too Tight

"Put it down, Sera. Now."

Kael’s voice was a low warning, but I didn't stop. I had the jagged piece of reinforced glass gripped in my palm, the edge slicing into my skin, but I didn't care. I only cared about the thin, shimmering thread of the binding spell wrapped around my wrist—the leash that kept me tethered to him like a goddamn dog.

"I'm done being your pet," I spat, my voice shaking. I stepped back, pressing my spine against the peeling wallpaper of the cramped apartment. "One slice. That's all it takes to break this pathetic little knot, right?"

Kael didn't move. He stood in the center of the room, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the hallway. He looked too calm. That was the problem. He wasn't scared of the glass; he was bored.

"You think that's how it works?" he asked, taking a slow step toward me. "You think a piece of trash from a broken window can sever a Soul-Bind?"

"I think I'm willing to find out," I snapped.