en'
IN
in my head, making
hen my body st
ck two paces. Someone in the hall screamed, chair legs scraped against marble
earing. Tr
like any pain, more like something breaking through earth, pushing aside my ori
think, no time for fear-the next se
d against the co
ll fell into
eyes-wider vision, deeper colors, light and scents floodi
tively retreat to both sides, clearing a wi
eally was him, the mate
bond, was the strongest thi
ing, only approaching, only instinctively
y ba
ority, deep and commanding, fall
p. My wolf wasn't under my control a
d stay
exploding in the enclosed hall, making the
omething pulled in the opposite direction-the bond, that thread more
an
time to look before chains appeared from nowhere,
right hind leg, and the longest one, barbed, pressed h
rugg
ood flowing down my neck and back. I stopped struggling, panting heavily,
f blood fil
le began covering their mouths i
manded, "Clos
eavy wooden panels slammed together, bars dropped, locking everyone in th
the crowd, his tone brooking no a
y silver chains, kneeling on the marble
clear, each word falling like stones,
ooo
ds fell, my wolf let
ding from deep in my chest, s
direction, losing that thread that had always been pulling it-the silver chains had already embedded in flesh, and
irst, then my spine,
uman was more pain
ed, returning me to that Seren who had been
didn't heal. I collapsed on the floor in tattered clothing, torn fabric re
was ver
ng to return, for the dizziness to pass. Then I br
en raised my head, brushing the hair fro
you,"
n the hal
at. "I, Seren Ashwyn, accept your rejection, Caius Black
aid it. This wasn't defianc
ickered in C
s something offended, the feeling when arr
cry, to grovel at his feet and beg him to change his mind in front of everyone. But here I stood,
. It was as humiliating
what he wante
d Ca
forward, bowing slightly, his expression respectful and submissive, as i
rel. But from today forward," he said, "as her father, I
n thought-what was there to disbelieve? This
, then looked at me, his l
ent chills d
motion seemingly casual but with preci
aking a leisurely stroll, as if what he was dragging wasn't a per
" he said softly in t
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