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Could I really do that to someone?

"I see that beautiful mind of yours turning, dear, but this really is the best option," she continued, voice almost gleeful. "Weren't there any prisoners you hated? I heard all the stories of how terrible they were to you …"

The world spun around me as I stared up at her, knot thick in my throat.

What the fuck was I going to do?

I had to convince her to find "bait" some other way!

But Tye had already moved to my side. "Let's go, Witch."

Everything in me demanded I stay and fight. But I had already narrowly avoided one disaster that morning. I couldn't risk another one.

Don't think. Don't feel. Just obey.

Chest aching, I made my way to the door.

"Oh, and dear?" Frexin's voice rang out behind me like shards of glass. "If you fail, it will be me who chooses for you … and youreallywon't like who I choose."

Chapter 34

Tye

Fucking mate bond!

The wolf kept flooding my mind with images of the Witch … that dream in the cave, naked and moaning as she came apart on my fingers … on the mission the day before, looking up at me with so much warmth and understanding … then the hurt in those same eyes as I told her we weren't friends.

Gritting my teeth, I slammed the lever to turn off the shower.

That was for the best.We needed to keep space. I'd already had to tell Frexin far too much because Kaiya and Liam had been talking so fucking loud. I'd been lucky not to have to mention that strange man and his time magic, but who knew how long I could keep that a secret?

I glared down at the newly inked metallic scrawl on my stomach. Frexin had added it to the tattoos alreadycovering my chest and arms the night before after her …questions. But the things were fucking useless!

Sure, they'd worked in the beginning — but since Kaiya's collar had been removed in the meeting that morning, her emotions had become a bombardment — a constant overwhelm that left me reeling and exhausted. And when Ididget space from her, the wolf relentlessly demanded I return to her side.

I —hecraved her scent. Sunshine. Stone. Freedom …

Damnit.I slammed my fist into the shower wall.So much for a cold shower clearing my head.

Storming out of the stall, I grabbed my towel off the hook on the wall and dried myself quickly.

Frexin was insistent that I just needed more tattoos because my wolf was stronger than normal. But every day I felt myself slipping further and further away, and there wasn't much skin left empty!

I needed her to be right, though. The wolf was dangerous, and the bond was even worse.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I reached for my clean uniform. But there was no clean uniform sitting in the usual spot. Just the dirty one I'd worn in … piled messily next to the bench.

A growl rumbled in my chest.I'd been so fucking focused on the Witch I'd forgotten to grab a clean uniform!

I glared down at the dirty clothes. They reeked of her.

I wouldnotbe wearing those.

Snapping up the dirty uniform, I stormed out of the shower area.

Men and women in the hall stared at me as I passed, half-naked, but I ignored them. A little indecency was the least of my worries.

"Be patient, Lieutenant,"Frexin had said with a sly grin."These things take time. Trust me. Someone as old as me knows."