Page 73 of A Dawn Of Blood

It’s only when Dryden comes to block my way that I snap out of it, realizing I’ve been walking straight towards Cain. I stop and glance at the collars he’s holding out. “Whenever you’re ready,” he tells me.

Not without hesitation, I give him a nod.

As soon as I do, I feel the burn of Cain’s eyes on me.

It needs to be done, I tell myself. It’s the only way to go on missions without worrying about him escaping or hurting anyone.

Even before Dryden turns around and activates the gas, I spot Cain get up, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Once he realizes what’s going on, he lunges at the bars, grips them tight and locks eyes with me with hatred twisting his face, but the gas is already doing its thing. I watch his eyelids start dropping and his body sway in place.

He drops to the flood with a thud.

As soon as he does, we get moving. I take one of the two matching collars and snap it around my neck. Dryden opens the cage, gets inside and starts trying to lift Cain to put the other collar on him.

But the moment he touches him, Cain’s hand shoots up.

My eyebrows shooting up, I hear everyone around me inhale sharply.

Before anyone can react, Cain grabs Dryden and flips him over, pinning him to the ground, and his words are slurred, but he still manages to snarl, “Don’t you dare touch me.”

I freeze, my heart breaking.

“Help,” Dryden calls out with panic in his voice.

Nuala snaps out of it and rushes over, making everyone else follow. Despite him clearly being under the influence of the gas, it takes five Embers to restrain Cain and lift him to his feet.

Watching him thrash in an effort to break free — his muscles tense, his teeth gritting and his eyes accusing as they direct all their hatred towards me — it takes all I have to walk over to him and to actually snap the collar around his neck.

“Let him go,” I order the second I do it, his ‘Don’t you dare touch me’ echoing in my mind.

“Careful, Cain,” I warn, gently but sternly, as soon as they release him and he stumbles back. “This magic is powerful, and it’s designed to prevent you from doing anything that would cause me pain.”

I watch him throw me a disgusted smirk right before he moves as if he’s going to summon his Shadow Wings to escape.

Just like it’s supposed to, the act makes the collar around my neck send a shock of pain through my body. It’s so blinding, I barely manage to stay on my feet, Raven coming to lend me a hand.

The same doesn’t seem to happen tohim, though. He only grits his teeth, making me fear the collars aren’t working after all.

Still, he does fail to use his magic. Regaining my footing, I breathe a sigh of relief.

But the next thing I know, he’s gone.

My heart stops beating as another shock of pain goes through me. I close my eyes shut, feeling Raven’s hand squeeze my upper arm.

There’s a long moment of silence filled with anticipation. Then the pain subsides, and I sense him coming back.

Opening my eyes, I turn to look at him, registering everyone else retreating but keeping their eyes on him.

As soon as I feel the collar magic stop threatening to kill him, he stops walking, and he’s seething, but he’s back.

It’s working.

“You can’t leave because that would cause me pain,” I explain. It must be obvious to him by now, but I want to somehow turn the situation around. “I’m afraid that for the time being you’ll need to remain right where I can see you,” I continue gently. “But hey, no more cage for you, and we’ll keep having dinner together, every evening.”

“No,” he grits out.

“I’m afraid it’s non-negotiable.”

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