Page 142 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Truth rang in my words, but still, Medea hesitated.
“You’re in my head as surely as I’m in yours,” I told her. I stared into her glittering eyes and invited her to peak into my mind. “Do you still think I’m bluffing?”
“You would do that to your beloved mate?” she asked. “You would abandon him by choosing death?”
I’m yours, and you’re mine, and I love you.
The words, the thought of his eyes and rare smiles, were a pang in my chest. The thought of never returning to him, of being another woman to disappoint him, threatened to break my resolve.
The thought of going back to that dreaded darkness and quiet…
Without giving her a chance to guard herself, I launched myself into Medea’s thoughts and glimpsed the truth before she could shut me out again. She had been too distracted by stirring my worst fears and heartaches to keep me out, and thanks to her hubris, I learned the final piece of information I needed to stay true to my threat.
If I gave Medea control, Ryder would be the first person she killed.
Without him to tether me, I would be powerless to break her hold again. The loss might break me so completely, I wouldn’twantto free myself from her.
“I won’t let that happen,” I whispered. “I would live in the dark for a thousand years rather than let that happen.”
Maybe the gods would be merciful and fill my eternal sleep with dreams of him—with dreams of the family I had found in Kieran and Melanie. Maybe time would soothe the burn of Bo’s betrayal and wipe away the pain this life had brought me. Maybe I would forget the revolting touch of Micah and Kowan.
Even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t concede.
Chimeras bow to no one.
“If you’re so hellbent on keeping me contained,” Medea growled, “then what is it you have to offer me?”
Hope sparked, but I didn’t let it show. I wasn’t sure Ishouldfeel hope—not with what I knew I needed to offer.
“Give me control,” I said, “and I will find a different way for you to come back—one that doesn’t exploit me and mypower.”
Medea chuckled.
“Why should I believe you,” she countered, “when as soon as you’re reunited with that wolf, you’ll complete your bond and lock me out of your magic forever.”
That really is the way to cast her out,I realized.
Of course I would learn about such a possibility only to lose it.
“Because,” I said, “I won’t complete the bond with him until you’re bound to a new vessel.”
Medea hesitated, and the silence between us grew taut.
“Not any vessel will do,” she said.
I nodded. “You need one that’s blessed by Helios, right? That’s what made chimeras the perfect doppelgängers. That’s why you convinced the gods and your grandfather to choose us.”
She studied me like she saw me for the first time.
“You really are a clever thing, pet,” she whispered.
“I will find you another sun-blessed creature,” I vowed, “and I will not complete the bond with my mate until I do so, under the condition that throughout that time, I will havecompletecontrol over my powers and my chimera. I will have autonomy.”
Medea considered me. “The Redfern witch shall be the one to bind me to my new vessel.”
Though I loathed to drag anyone else into the deal I struck, I nodded. On the cusp of getting everything I wanted, I couldn’t balk.
“So,” Medea said, “do you expect me to take your word for it?”
