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Elias allowed himself to marvel at her nearness, at the glorious energy pouring down the bond. There was terror in her heart and so much anger. But it didn’t take away from his joy at seeing her again—to marvel at these few precious moments in her presence.

Unbidden, his body started trembling faintly.

The fissure that had formed in his heart widened further. Even feeling how the bond hummed in his chest, his body andmind recalled all the times Magnus had worn her face—and killed Elias or tortured him. Rather than feeling only happiness at seeing his mate, he also felt fear.

This isn’t a trick of Magnus’, he thought.This is my mate.

But even knowing it was her by the way the tightness in his chest eased, he couldn’t shirk the doubt lingering in his thoughts.

Elias stared at the far wall, able only to glance Arabella’s face in his periphery. He could make out the strands of her hair that had pulled free of her braid and her black leather streaked with… Was that sand?

Beneath the smells of sweat, leather, and dark earth was the faint scent of lilacs and peppermint—which is what her essence tasted like.

Fuck, he’d do anything to taste her again.

Those dreams had been the only solace during the long weeks with Magnus. But now… He longed for her touch more than anything in this world.

But I can never touch her again. And I can’t let Magnus use me against her.

There was a sharp sting as the blade broke his skin and blood trickled down his neck.

Let me die,he thought, hoping Arabella could understand the desperation filling him.

He’d just kept her from protecting Jessamine, and he couldn’t let Magnus use him against Arabella and her friends again.

For the first time, he wondered what Hadeon was doing here and why he’d been with Arabella. Had he used the bargain with Arabella? What would he have taken from her, and to what end?

There was so much Elias didn’t know.

“Remain still,” Magnus purred as blood flowed more freely down Elias’ neck.

The words were infused with the syphen’s magic. Instantly, Elias froze in place. His skin knit back together, leaving a pang of hunger in his gut.

Fuck, he needed essence so desperately.

“Free Elias, hand his syphen over, and I’ll come with you,” Arabella said as he was forced to fix his gaze on the far wall.

No!

He wanted to scream, to tell her to run far from here. But all he could do was to stand in place and await whatever Magnus ordered him to do next.

“Where you go is no longer within your power to bargain,” Magnus said. “You’re a guest of the Twilight Court now. But don’t fret. I’ll have you and Elias under my care soon enough. Speaking of my syphen…”

A burning rage filled Magnus’ eyes. “You have something of mine.” His voice lowered. It was a tone Elias had become far too familiar with. One that promised violence. “Where is Breckett?”

Elias swallowed thickly, his mouth suddenly dry. If Magnus hadn’t ordered him to remain still, his knees might have given out.

Run, Arabella.

The blade pressed against his throat once more.

“I don’t need Elias to have his memories now that I’ve found a way to duplicate his magic and give it to my other erox,” Magnus purred. “He remains as he is only because it suits me. For now.”

Fear seized Elias’ veins, and a tightness spread through his chest, making it hard to breathe. While the idea of succumbing to his inner demon had terror ripping through every fiber of his being, there was one thing he feared more—something happening to his mate.

“You wouldn’t,” Arabella hissed somewhere beyond his sight.

A deep, haunting fear flowed down the bond so strongly it nearly drowned out his own. Even after everything, Arabella worried for his safety.