Don’t worry, he whispers, his one good eye glowing molten as he reaches for my face. Zairn won’t tell Slaine what you are. Not unless he wants to be punished for entering this room without orders—of which the penalty is death.

My hair raises at the sensation of his shadowy fingers probing my mind, searching for something. I try my best to push him away mentally, which fails miserably, so I go for the next best option.

Using the last of my strength, I place my palms on Malice’s chest, fighting against the pleasurable wave of electricity that flows between us, begging me to do anything other than what I’m going to do. But it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Not any more.

I shove Malice away with a snarl, fixing my face into a disgusted expression despite the painful tug of the bond. Following that invisible thread typing us together, I project my own voice into his mind, making sure it’s laced with as much venom as I feel.

It seems you’re mistaken on how much I care—I don’t. Not what happens to you, or that creep, or to me.

It hurts, but my words have the desired effect. An unmistakable sheen of pain enters Malice’s gaze, and he drops his hand back to his side as his eyes widen dejectedly.

Don’t say that…

Why not? I demand. If I have power, I don’t know how to use it. And if I don’t know how to use it, I have no way to get out of here and away from all of you. I don’t have a choice anymore. You did a splendid job of taking that away from me and sealing my fate.

I shake my head, rage filling the endless pit in my stomach, and suddenly, my thoughts aren’t enough to get my point across. “I hate you, Malice,” I say, my voice cracking heavily. “I hate everything you fucking stand for.”

His mouth sets into a hard line, all traces of arrogance gone. You don’t mean that. The bond won’t let you⁠—

“I don’t give a damn what the bond, the gods, or the fates themselves have to say about it,” I snap. “I fucking hate you for what you did to me. How you lied to me. And I always—always—will.” I turn away from him, facing the wall as the bond screams and yanks in opposition. I can’t bear to look at him—to feel my heart break all over again as I’m reminded of his betrayal. Because not only did he doom me, but he betrayed Cyprien, Roark, and Lir as well.

And Kaebl…