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My chest tightened. My beast stirred, and a growl entered my voice. “Then I’ll go fetch her. She can’t leave us.”

“That’s her call, not yours.”

“You won’t let her leave, either.” My heart began to pound. Why was he talking this way? No one was leaving.

“Aye, I would. If she truly wanted it.”

“I don’t believe that.” The constriction in my chest grew worse. It was hard to breathe. “You tied her up when you found her.”

“Before she accepted our bond. She needed time to get to know us. But now?” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t restrain her, no matter the consequences.”

“She’s not leaving. She can’t leave.” I’d make sure of it. I turned from the window, but he blocked my path. “Get out of my way, Fergus,” I said through clenched teeth.

“No.”

Dammit, I could make him move. He knew that. “Now.”

“You cannae go get her. Not this time. She has to come to you.”

“She won’t.”

“She will.”

My chest ached. I could hardly draw a breath. I went to step around him.

He moved fast, blocking me again.

I shoved him.

He stumbled but held his ground. “You can’t force her back to you, Bram.”

My control snapped. “Why the fuck not?” I yelled, shoving him again.

He seized my arms and yelled back. “Because she’s not me! Whether it’s sex or life, you can’t hold someone down unless they want it!”

I froze, my heart running a race in my chest. Our faces were an inch apart, and I could see my stunned expression in his pupils.

He moved his hands to my face. “Because she’s not me,” he repeated softly. “I ken why you hold on so tightly. I won’t break, babe, but Halina might. And I’m no’ talking about what we do in bed.” His voice grew even softer. “Everyone you might have loved left you…and then you were alone, a babysitter for a madman when you were little more than a baby yourself.”

Memories rushed me. The screams… The roars… A little boy covering his head with his arms, hoping the fire didn’t get too close this time. It hurt when it kissed his skin, even though his other form could heal it…

“Bram.” Fergus rubbed his thumbs over my cheekbones. The memories receded, replaced with a pair of clear silver eyes. He pulled me from the past. He’d been doing it for years.

No, centuries.

He stroked my cheeks again, petting me like someone might comfort a cat…or a dragon wearing human skin.

Something inside me tore a little. My heart, maybe. “You…” I drew a shuddering breath. “You think I’d force you to be with me?”

He sighed, but he was smiling. “It’s no’ even a question with us. You needed me young and fate made it happen. We’ve been bound so long I hardly remember a time when we weren’t. I wouldn’t change it. Not for anything.”

My chest tightened all over again. Had he needed me? He was a naturally happy soul. And I was…damaged. What did I really offer Fergus, anyway?

“I know that look,” he said. “You’re thinking something stupid.”

I huffed. “You shouldn’t have to shoulder my burdens.” In my head, I changed it to me. He shouldn’t have to shoulder me. I was the burden.

“You’re not a burden,” he said, reading me as uncannily as always. “I love you. And if you think I don’t need you as much as you need me, I’ll just have to work harder at showing you.”