Page 14 of Empire of Wrath and Ruin
"No." The word was calm, matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather. "Not yet."
"Why?" The question came out sharper than I intended, edged with frustration and fear.
He settled on the edge of the bed, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. When he reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face, I had to fight not to lean into the touch.
"Because you would run," he said simply. "And this city is not safe for Imperial citizens. There are those among my people who would kill you simply for existing."
"So you keep me prisoner instead?"
"I keep you safe." His hand moved to rest against my throat, not threatening but possessive. "You are mine now, Aeveth. The bond between us makes that clear. But you don't yet understand what that means."
I could feel it then, stronger than before—that alien presence lurking at the edges of his mind. It purred with satisfaction at his words, encouraging him to tighten his grip, to assert his dominance more forcefully. The realization that somethingelse was influencing him should have been reassuring, an explanation for his behaviour that didn't make him entirely responsible. Instead, it terrified me.
"What are those things in your head?" I asked quietly.
He went very still, his hand freezing against my throat. "What?"
"The shadows. I can feel them through the bond. They're not just magic your control, are they? They're something else. Something separate."
For a long moment, he didn't respond. I watched emotions flicker across his face—surprise, concern, something that might have been fear. When he finally spoke, his voice was carefully controlled.
"You shouldn't be able to sense that. The bond is new, it should take time to develop that kind of connection."
"But I can sense it," I pressed. "They… they influence you somehow."
His jaw tightened, and I saw his pupils dilate slightly, as a wave of darkness flooded my mind. I gasped, though it didn’t hurt. Whatever the shadows were, they weren't pleased that I could perceive them.
"They are called the Veyr-sha," he said finally. "An ancient magic that flows through the mountain, through our people. It grants us power, but..."
"But what?"
"But it comes with a price." He moved his hand from my throat to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing across my skin with unexpected gentleness. "The stronger our connection to the shadows, the more they influence our thoughts and actions. Most of our people learn to live in balance with them. Some..." He paused, something dark flickering across his features. "Some are consumed by them entirely."
"And you?" I asked, though I dreaded the answer.
"I walk the line," he admitted. "The shadows are strongest in me, which makes me powerful but also... dangerous. Especially when it comes to protecting what I consider mine."
The casual way he referred to me as a possession should have sparked my anger, but instead I felt that treacherous warmth again. The mate bond was definitely affecting my reactions, making me respond positively to displays of possessiveness that would have infuriated me before.
"Is that why you bound me?" I asked. "Because the shadows told you to?"
"Partly." His honesty surprised me. "But also because I wanted to. Because the thought of you tied to my bed, waiting for my return, appeals to something fundamental in my nature." His eyes darkened. "The shadows simply make it easier to act on those desires without guilt."
At least he was being honest about his motivations, even if those motivations were deeply disturbing. I tested the restraints again, more out of habit than any real hope of escape.
"How long do you plan to keep me like this?"
"Until I'm certain you won't try to leave." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "This bond between us, Aeveth—it's permanent. Unbreakable. Fighting it will only cause you pain."
"And accepting it?"
"Accepting it will bring you pleasure beyond anything you've ever imagined." His lips brushed against my neck, and I had to bite back a gasp. "I can give you everything, Aeveth. Safety, comfort, a place of honour among my people. All you have to do is stop fighting me."
The offer was tempting, more tempting than it had any right to be. But underneath his words, I could hear the shadows whispering their approval, and I knew that whatever he wasoffering came with strings attached. Invisible chains that would be no less binding than the physical ones currently holding me.
"What about my freedom?" I asked.
"Freedom is an illusion," he said, pulling back to meet my eyes. "You were never free in the Empire. Here, you would be a cherished mate, protected and provided for."
