Page 93 of Draekora

“Don’t come any closer.”

The words came out as harshly as the crack of a whip in the silence of the room.

“Niyx,” Alex pleaded, halting mid-step.

His head came up and he stared straight at her, his eyes like blazing purple fire. Alex had never seen him look so ravaged, like he had no idea what to think, what to feel, what to say or do. Gone was the confident, cocky Niyx she’d come to be so fond of. In his place was someone clearly waging an inner battle.

“You saved my life,” he said, his voice brittle. “That’s the only reason—” He broke off, swallowed and tried again. “It’s the only reason I brought you back here and haven’t told anyone what you did. What youare.”

Alex fisted her hand around her new scar, knowing that her flesh was as healed as it had previously been, but also aware that Niyx hadn’t failed to see the red of her blood, even as close to death as he had been.

“Niyx—” she whispered, but he cut her off.

“There’s nothing you can say that would make any of this okay.”

Alex agreed with him. But she also didn’t. She chose to ignore her mortality for the moment and simply said, “I couldn’t let you die.”

“So youClaimedme?” he demanded, rising to his feet, his clawed shirt hanging in tatters. “Are youinsane? Now we’re both going to die! They’ll execute us for what you’ve done—you do realise that, don’t you?”

Alex shook her head. “No one has to find out. I’ll free you from the bond and no one but us will ever know it happened.”

Niyx released a bitter laugh. “If you believe that, you’re only lying to yourself. We both know you won’t free me, not as long as I know your little mortal secret.”

As if being stabbed by a dagger, Alex felt the full force of his words like the blow they were. Because he wasright. She’d been so consumed by saving his life that she hadn’t thought beyond that, hadn’t worried about the repercussions of her actions. It was one thing for Roka to know the truth about her; Roka who she had faith in and knew would never do anything to harm her. But Niyx was a wildcard. Not only that, he was Aven’sbest friend. And if the leader of theGarsethdiscovered the truth about Alex… She couldn’t bear to think about what might happen.

“I’ll Release you,” Alex promised, her voice shaking. “Of course I will, Niyx. It’s just…”

“Just what, Aeylia?” he asked, a sneer on his beautiful face. “Just that you can’t right now? That it’s not a good time? Well guess what, sweetheart. That excuse is going to get real old, real fast.”

“Niyx…”

“But it won’t matter, will it?” he went on, prowling her way. “Because you can make it so I don’t care. You can make it so I forget why I’dwantto care. Stars, you can make me do whatever you want!” He threw his hands up, his fury palpable as he continued stalking towards her.

Sensing it was time to retreat, Alex backed away in the direction of her balcony. “Niyx, please,” she said, her tone uneasy. “You know me. You know I won’t do anything like that to you.”

He paused mid-step. “Iknowyou?” he repeated in a low voice. “Do you really think that’s your best argument right now?”

A flicker of anger sparked in Alex, but she knew she had to stay calm and reasonable. “Despite the fact that I saved your life, I know you have every right to be mad about what I did.”

“Why in the name of the light would I be mad, Aeylia?” he asked, his tone simmering. “Maybe because youstole my will from me?”

Alex flinched as he bellowed the words, thankful that the rain was coming down in heavy sheets loud enough to protect them from any eavesdropping, immortal ears.

“You’re angry,” Alex said. “I get that. Believe me, I do.” And she did, having experienced the disturbing puppet-like effect of the bond herself.

“I’m not angry!” Niyx shouted. “I’m furious!”

“Let’s just—Let’s just take a moment and breathe,” Alex suggested in the face of his wrath as she reached the edge of her room. If she retreated any further, she would have to step out onto the balcony into the rain. But Niyx didn’t stop his advance, so she raised her hands in front of her, trying to ward him off. “You’re in shock. Of course you are. But please—let’s just talk about this.”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he roared in her face.

That was when Alex’s spark of anger flared, prompting her to yell right back at him. “Stop it, Niyx! Take a breath and calm down!”

She felt it the moment it happened. It was like there was a tugging sensation, an invisible piece of string moving from her scarred palm and attaching to Niyx’s chest where she’d created the bond. The effect was instantaneous: he stopped, took a breath and calmed down.

Horrified by what she’d done, even if the result was to her benefit, Alex’s hands flew up to her mouth. With wide eyes, she whispered out, “I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean—” She bit down on her cheek, stopping her words before she could accidentally say something else she didn’t mean.

Raising her fingers to pull at her wet, straggly hair, Alex admitted in a helpless tone, “Niyx, I don’t know what to do here.”

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