en'

IN

in my head, making

hen my body st

ck two paces. Someone in the hall screamed, chair legs scraped against marble

earing. Tr

like any pain, more like something breaking through earth, pushing aside my ori

think, no time for fear-the next se

d against the co

ll fell into

eyes-wider vision, deeper colors, light and scents floodi

tively retreat to both sides, clearing a wi

eally was him, the mate

bond, was the strongest thi

ing, only approaching, only instinctively

y ba

ority, deep and commanding, fall

p. My wolf wasn't under my control a

d stay

exploding in the enclosed hall, making the

omething pulled in the opposite direction-the bond, that thread more

an

time to look before chains appeared from nowhere,

right hind leg, and the longest one, barbed, pressed h

rugg

ood flowing down my neck and back. I stopped struggling, panting heavily,

f blood fil

le began covering their mouths i

manded, "Clos

eavy wooden panels slammed together, bars dropped, locking everyone in th

the crowd, his tone brooking no a

y silver chains, kneeling on the marble

clear, each word falling like stones,

ooo

ds fell, my wolf let

ding from deep in my chest, s

direction, losing that thread that had always been pulling it-the silver chains had already embedded in flesh, and

irst, then my spine,

uman was more pain

ed, returning me to that Seren who had been

didn't heal. I collapsed on the floor in tattered clothing, torn fabric re

was ver

ng to return, for the dizziness to pass. Then I br

en raised my head, brushing the hair fro

you,"

n the hal

at. "I, Seren Ashwyn, accept your rejection, Caius Black

aid it. This wasn't defianc

ickered in C

s something offended, the feeling when arr

cry, to grovel at his feet and beg him to change his mind in front of everyone. But here I stood,

. It was as humiliating

what he wante

d Ca

forward, bowing slightly, his expression respectful and submissive, as i

rel. But from today forward," he said, "as her father, I

n thought-what was there to disbelieve? This

, then looked at me, his l

ent chills d

motion seemingly casual but with preci

aking a leisurely stroll, as if what he was dragging wasn't a per

" he said softly in t