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“I mean that there are things in this world that can’t be seen under a microscope.”

Now it’s my turn to scoff. “There wasnothingharmful in that blood.”

“If you’d put it on your wound, the Tantun venom would’ve poisoned you.Nevertry that again.”

I try to pick through the bits of information he gives me to find the truth. “If Tantun blood is poison… You’re Dragonis. Not Tantun or Corvidion. Does that mean all Dragonis blood heals?”

“No.” He takes my good arm more gently this time and leads me toward the door. “You have to go.”

“No!” I dig in my heels. “Tell me more. Tell me what you did to me—what you’redoingto me,” I correct myself.

He stops, his stony gaze finding mine. “What did you just say?”

“You’ve been controlling me. Making me want …” The pure ire in his eyes makes my words evaporate.

Then his glare turns to a taunting smirk. “You thinkI’mcontrollingyou?” He laughs, the sound raw and harsh. “From the moment I saw you, you’ve been in every fucking thought, every moment. I can’t escape you, and I sure as hell can’t control you, no matter how much I wish I could.”

My mouth hangs open. None of this makes sense. “I don’t unders?—”

“Shh.” He holds up a finger.

“I’m not leaving until you?—”

He grabs me and slaps one hand over my mouth, the other going around my waist as he pulls my back to his front. “Don’t breathe,” he whispers into my ear.

Something scratches at his door.

I go still, my fight evaporating as he slowly walks backwards with me pinned against him.

“Master?” A slithering voice from the hallway.

He backs into a darkened room and releases me. “Not a fucking sound,” he breathes. Then he walks away.

I hear the door open as Valen barks, “What?”

“The girl. We’ve lost her.” The voice is more of a hiss, and it sounds as if it’s two people speaking at once.

I put my hand to my mouth and press myself against the wall by the bedroom door.

“Check the lab.”

“We looked?—”

“Look again! If you can’t find her, I will make you both an example of my displeasure. It seems you have no need of your eyes, so I’ll start there.” Valen’s cold voice sends a surge of fear through me. That’s when I realize how different he is with me. Not soft. Barely cordial. But not viciously cruel like this.

“Yes, Master.”

The door slams.

Valen reappears and takes my hand, a stark look in his eyes. “You have to go. Now.” He leads me to the door, then out and up the stairs.

Once we’re back in my apartment, he walks ahead of me and swipes the medical supplies off my kitchen counter in a violent blur.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yell and rush past him.

He catches me by my neck, his touch soft despite the fire in his movements.

He opens his mouth in a snarl, his fangs long and deadly. My heart drops into my stomach, and I claw at his wrist to free myself.