Page 83 of Infernal Bonds

“Zeke,” he rasped.

“I won’t let you leave me like this,” I whispered, clutching the back of his head with one hand and pulling him toward me until our lips met.

It was the only way I knew to express what was in my heart. I didn’t know what else to do. If I were destined to fail and lose him to the cursed magic of this place, then at least he would have this small part of me to remember.

It was the only thing I had left to give him.

He tensed for only a moment before he pressed into the kiss with a broken sound that reminded me more of a wounded animal than a Shyrlivi.

I hadn’t expected him to respond, but as he grasped my face in his hands and licked into my mouth, I knew I’d never recover from what I’d started.

His tongue tangled with mine, and I shuddered when his moan vibrated my lips. I sucked in a shaky breath as he broke the kiss before moving in again, stealing my exhale when his mouth slotted over mine.

When he jerked away from me, I didn’t move.

I was so stunned by what had just happened that I didn’t know what to do.

“Fuck,” he choked. “It hurts.”

He dropped on all fours and dug his claws into the ground.

“Will my blood help?”

Both of our gazes snapped to Rae as she stood at the edge of the clearing.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

I climbed to my feet, preparing to protect her if I needed to. “I told you to stay in the trees.”

“I couldn’t. Not when I heard your cries after I slipped.” She looked at Cyn, her eyes sparkling, which caught me off guard. “I’m your Nyrith—even though we haven’t fully bonded. Isn’t my blood supposed to heal you?”

“It only works on Ezra’s bloodline,” I said, looking down at Cyn as he panted.

A look of determination crossed her face when Cyn took a gasping breath. “Try it.”

“What?”

She crossed to us and got on her knees in front of Cyn. “Nothing else has made sense when it comes to me and my blood. Why not try it? What do you have to lose?”

“I can’t,” he hissed.

“Why?”

He tightened his fists on the ground. “I won’t stop. Not like this.”

“Then he’ll stop you.” She looked up at me with so much trust in her eyes that I knew I couldn’t let her down.

I crouched next to them. “I’ll be here. I won’t let you kill her.”

At this point, I was willing to try anything.

“Hold me down and cut her arm,” Cyn barked. “I won’t bite her.”

She frowned. “Wouldn’t that be easier?”

“Not if you want to live.” He tensed, baring his teeth as his neck muscles went taut. “Hurry up, I don’t have much time.”

I pushed him onto his back and straddled his waist, using my knees to keep his arms pinned so I had free use of my hands. When Rae dropped to her knees next to him and held out her arm, I mouthed “I’m sorry” before dragging my claw across her inner forearm.