Page 90 of The Curse of Golden Blood
She flinched, but her chin lifted in defiance. "The bloodletting was different. It was in small measure. My heart would be—"
"Your heart would be what? A miracle?" I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "There is no cure," I continued, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "There never was. Only death wearing the mask of salvation."
"You're lying." But her voice wavered.
"Am I? Then why do you think I kept this from you? Why do you think I let them bleed you drop by drop instead of taking everything at once?" I reached out and caught her chin, forcing her to look at me. "Because I hoped they would see what I saw. That your power is too much for any of them to bear."
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Then they'll all die anyway."
"Yes."
The simple word hung between us like a death sentence. She stared at me for a long moment, her breathing shallow and quick.
Then she jerked her chin from my grasp. "It's not your decision to make, Zydar."
Something cold settled in my stomach at the way she said my name. No affection. No warmth. Just ice and finality.
"The court will decide," she said, stepping backward toward the door. "And when they do, I'll make sure they know exactly what kind of creature you really are."
"It is my decision to make." I stepped closer, closing the distance she'd tried to create. "Every breath you take, every beat of your heart, every moment you exist in this world is mine to protect."
Her eyes flashed with fire. "Yours?" She laughed, but it was sharp and bitter. "I belong to no one, least of all a creature who thinks he can play god with people's lives."
"I don't play god, little dove. I am beyond such games." My voice dropped lower, rougher. "And as for ownership..." I slid my hand into her hair, cradling the back of her head. "You may never admit it to yourself, but your soul is already bound to mine. In this life, and all that follow."
"It's not true," She moved toward me instead of away, her finger jabbing into my chest. "You arrogant, controlling bastard. You think you can just decide who lives and dies? You think you can keep me locked away like some precious trinket while the world burns around us?"
I caught her wrist, my fingers wrapping around the delicate bones. "I think I can keep you alive when every other soul in this realm is begging for your death."
"Maybe I don't want to be kept alive." Her voice turned deadly quiet. "Maybe I'd rather die saving them than live knowing I could have."
Something dark and possessive roared to life in my chest. "Then you're a fool."
"And you're a monster." She tried to pull her wrist free, but I held tight. "A selfish, possessive monster who would rather watch the world rot than lose his favorite plaything."
I yanked her closer, until her body was pressed against mine, until I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest. "Is that what you think you are to me? A plaything?"
Her breath hitched, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "Aren't I? Tell me what I am to you, Zydar."
I stared at her for a long moment, watching the way the torchlight caught the gold in her eyes. "You're my curse."
She blinked, surprise flickering across her face. "The one thing I cannot conquer or control or bend to my will." My thumb traced along her jaw, and she shivered. "The weakness I never asked for and cannot rid myself of."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I have." I leaned closer, until I could feel her breath against my lips. "You make me weak, little dove. You make me question every decision, every strategy, every carefully laid plan."
Her eyes searched mine. "And you hate me for it."
"I should." My voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I should hate you for what you've done to me. For making me care about something other than victory."
She was quiet for a moment, her breathing shallow. "But you don't."
"No." The admission felt like bleeding. "I don't."
She bit her lower lip, and I watched the way her teeth pressed into the soft flesh. The small gesture sent heat racing through my veins like liquid fire. "Then why? Why won't you let me choose?"
"Because there is no choice." I moved closer, backing her against the cold stone wall.
