Page 113 of Primal Bonds

“No.” His grip on her tightened. “I don’t want you…anywhere near…him.”

She didn’t reply, but she’d made up her mind. Jace needed his quartz to heal himself. They couldn’t count on Adric finding them in time.

Tyrus shifted position. She sat back up so she could keep an eye on him, but Tyrus was only settling back against the wall. Why the hell didn’t he go to sleep? But he seemed wide awake, although relaxed, sated from his meal.

Tyrus spoke. “You and the fada—you love him?” He sounded curious, but she didn’t trust his reasons for asking—and she was damned if she’d tell him before she’d told Jace himself.

She moved a shoulder. “I haven’t known him that long.”

Jace tugged on her hand. When she leaned closer, he murmured, “I love you,” the words a warm tickle in her ear.

She blinked. Heat crept into her chest, chasing away the last of the chill. “I—” She halted and shook her head.

“You feel it.” Jace brought her hand to his heart. “My mate,” he mouthed.

“You’re telling me this now?” she whispered back.

He gave her a crooked grin. “Didn’t know myself…until a few hours ago.” He sobered. “Wanted you to know…in case…”

She shot a glance at Tyrus, but he was holding Jace’s quartz by the cord and examining it.

“You are not going to die,” she told Jace.

He pressed a kiss to her hand and then released it. He opened his mouth and tried to speak, but couldn’t.

She squeezed his fingers. “You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.”

“Mate bond,” he said at last. “Not complete. But might help. The two of us…together…stronger.”

She nodded. She did feel calmer, and she could swear there was a fine thread connecting her to Jace. Her heart filled with wonder. Could this be the mate bond? She touched a hand to her sternum, right where she felt the connection, and Jace nodded as if he’d heard her question.

Tyrus closed his fingers around Jace’s quartz. He touched it to the hollow of his throat and muttered something in a language Evie didn’t recognize. “Sit up.”

His dark eyes focused on Jace—and Jace jerked upright. He snarled, and Tyrus said, “Quiet,” and Jace’s mouth clamped shut as if a switch had been flipped.

Evie started. What the fuck?

Tyrus’s mouth curved. “The possibilities are so interesting. I could order you to do anything. Kill that niece of yours, even.”

Fine hairs raised all along Evie’s spine. “You wouldn’t.”

Jace’s throat worked. His expression was murderous, but whatever Tyrus was using to control him wouldn’t allow him to speak.

“No?” the night fae said. “I can’t kill her myself—she’s protected by a ward. Anyone who touches her dies himself. But if Jones does it for me…” Tyrus released the quartz and let it swing from his fingers.

Whatever had been holding Jace upright released. He flopped forward like a marionette with its strings cut, but came right back up with a snarl. He lurched at Tyrus, but the night fae touched the quartz to his throat again.

“Stay where you are.”

Evie had worked out what Tyrus meant. Her stomach dropped. “He would die, too.”

“Exactly. It would kill two birds with one stone, yes?”

Jace strained against the invisible bonds, the cords of his neck quivering with tension. But it was no use, and he was dangerously weak. All too soon his shoulders slumped. He sent Evie an anguished look and leaned back against the wall.

Evie took his hand and racked her brain for ideas. But she kept circling back to the one sure thing: Steal back Jace’s quartz.

Tyrus’s eyes drifted shut, but she’d bet her last dollar he wasn’t sleeping. Still, if they were going to fight back, it had to be now, before the night came again. Daytime was when a night fae was weakest.

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