Page 21 of The Wings That Bind

I wanted to turn away. When he looked at me, it was as if he saw everything. The thoughts I most wanted to hide. My desperation. He was the one who should have been feeling desperate, not me. Yet here I was, feeling trapped and naked.

“Besides, I know the difference,” he murmured, never taking his eyes from mine.

“Difference?”

“Between a monster and the one wearing its chains.”

I stared at him. I should have been offended. I should have been cold with rage. I should have demanded he follow me to the Black Keep right then and there, brought him straight before Viktor, and then …

I looked away. I was a fool, yes. I knew I wasn’t going to do any of those things.

Kage stood there looking at me, and I knew what he must see. To him, I was Viktor’s pet, a wretched highblood girl playing a nasty game of power. Or maybe he saw a pawn traded between men. Just another jewel in the dark crown of Sangratha. A woman as shallow and hollow as a gemstone, too.

“Why didn’t you scream?”

I let out a breath and watched it mist into a cloud. “I’m tired of screaming.”

Kage tilted his head. “Rough day?”

“Not at all,” I said, trying to strike a bored tone. “Why would you say that?”

He shrugged. “You’re standing alone on a cliff in the snow, talking to a man who was a wolf not just five minutes ago. You didn’t run, even though you thought I was going to kill you.” He tilted his head. “And that blightborn woman on the balcony this morning. You might have fooled the rest of them, but …”

I stared at him. “That obvious?” I finally choked.

“Yeah, a little obvious.”

I stood there, feeling like an idiot. “Guess I’m not the only one too weak to kill,” I said coldly.

“I kill when there’s a need, not simply to impress a crowd. In House Avari, cruelty isn’t considered a sign of strength.” Without warning, Kage moved towards me, his hand flicking back the collar of my dress. The silk slid aside at his touch, and I let out a gasp.

“Easy.” His voice was cool and authoritative. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

I froze, not bothering to glance down, already knowing what he’d seen: the dark bruises blooming over my breasts like cruel roses.

“Viktor do that to you?” His face was very still.

I didn’t answer. I knew he didn’t really expect me to. I gave myself a mental shake. I couldn’t stay out here all night, no matter how much I might want to. “What happens now?”

“You’re not going to tell anyone what you’ve seen here tonight. We’ll take it from there.” He wasn’t using thrallweave, and he wasn’t asking a question. He was stating a truth we both knew.

I felt unsettled. There he was, cool and steady, while I held his greatest secret in the palm of my hand. I could destroy Kage and possibly his entire house with what I knew.

“No,” I agreed slowly. “I’m not.”

He nodded. “You’ll make the vow?”

Silently, I held out my hand. He drew out a silver dagger and sliced his palm. Then gently, ever so gently, he lifted mine and did the same.

As the blood flowed, he placed his palm against mine and pressed lightly, the briefest of touches. I felt a sudden jolt, like fire, racing straight from his veins to mine.

I snatched my hand back. “What was that?”

Kage gave me a strange look but didn’t respond. I’d never made a Vow before; for all I knew this was normal. I looked at my palm, watching the blood well. Highbloods healed fast. This was nothing compared to what I could endure. The mark would be gone by the time I returned to the Keep. Viktor would never see it. He never had to know.

“Now what?” The blaze in my palm was already fading.

The Avari was turning to go. Now he stopped, eyebrows rising. “Isn’t that up to you?” He paused. “But do me a favor.”