Page 18 of Sunder

And she screamed.

Angry. No. Furious.

Because she’d been the fool to make him promise, to talk of looking and watching and assessing the man for herself before she allowed any instincts or bonds to overwhelm her.

What a fool she had been.

The man was calling after them, and then there was another figure.

And ithurt.

Her chest felt as if it was going to wrench itself open. The threads—no, the ropes—yanked forward desperately, knowing what would happen if they were parted once more.

“No, no, no...” she repeated, shaking her head wildly as she was wrenched away.

Again.

“Orma, I swear,” Lucian was growling in her ear, and the wind was rushing about them, unseasonably cold. Or maybe that was just her, shivering and teeth chattering with something that felt all too near to despair.

“Please,” Orma gasped out, uncertain if she was begging Lucian or the bond itself. To settle, to quiet, to go back into the dormant tangle she’d been able to—not ignore—but live with.

That wasn’t quite right, either.

She’d survived it.

She wouldn’t survive this.

Better he drop her now. Crush her wings first, and then she’d plummet and then...

He was still growling. Was shaking her lightly because he wanted her attention, didn’t he? Wretch that he was. Ruining her. Ruining what was meant to be.

“Wait!”

It was impractical to yell while in flight. Currents and wind and sound made for a terrible combination, and yet, she heard it.

Urgent. The bond was still reaching. Searching.

Not on the ground any longer.

But in the air.

Because...

They were being followed.

Not by the man with the lantern, but by the one she’d needed all along.

It was too dark to make out more than his form, and even that was quickly obscured when Lucian suddenly plummeted.

Then pulled sharply upward.

Trying to outmanoeuvre their pursuer.

No.

Her mate.

He’d spoken to her.

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