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"I will when youstop fighting!" he snarled.

The storm of both our emotions tore free inside me, and I fought back the tears welling up.

"How can Istopwhen you helped thatmonsterHURTpeople?!?" The words poured from me, harsh and guttural. "And how dareyoufeel anything but GUILT at what you've done?"

His emotions shifted and his grip on my arm tightened.

"How do you know what I'm …" His words cut off, and he dropped my hand as if I were some poisonous vyper.

"How can you feel my emotions?" he snarled. "Shouldn't the collar be stopping that?"

"I don't know," I snapped. "But it keeps happening when you touch me." I rubbed my arm roughly, as though that could somehow make the memory of his emotions disappear.

"Just when I touch you?"

I nodded. "Seems like you're the only one who gets to feel them all the time."

"But,why?" He growled deep within his chest. "If you could feel me through the bond,whydidn't you take my offer? Couldn't youtellI was trying to help?!"

Something twisted inside me at the desperation in his voice … but it was far too late for that discussion.

"I said I can feel your emotions, not read your fucking thoughts!" I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "And it wasn't like you offered any kind of explanation. You just demanded I trust you! So what did you expect? Besides …" I cocked a brow. "I was right not to trust you in the end, wasn't I?"

He didn't answer.

I lifted my chin. "You betrayed me, asshole. Betrayed us … because you, Tyelire Fordyth, are a fucking short-sighted, selfish bastard. And if some part of you — any part of you, ever cared for me, at all, you'll leave me thefuckalone." Loathing dripped from every word.

"Glad to hear it, Witch." His voice was cold and hard. "That makes this next bit easier."

His words sent pain through my chest again, but I squeezed my fists tighter and pushed the feelings away.Fuck the bond!

"Time to go," he said, tugging me along behind him, careful not to let our skin touch now that he knew the consequences.

Good. I couldn't handle feeling him anymore, either. The bond was trying to manipulate me — make me feel bad for the misguided man.

But I was stronger than that. My anger was stronger.

And there was no place for him in my new role with Frexin.

I attempted to calm my mind, focusing on the noises around me.

Wheels crunched on gravel ahead — the carts carrying the bonded villagers, perhaps?

My heart twisted, but I pushed the guilt away. It was not the time for that.

I had to stay focused. Don't think. Don't feel. Just obey.

From behind me came the faint sounds of the ocean and the bustle of the port as workers unloaded the ship. Abreeze blew in, bringing with it the salty scent of the ocean and the smoke from machinery.

The port behind me and the slope we were heading up meant we had to be heading up to Dragon's Peak — or the fortress that was once Dragon's Peak.

Regardless, I was back to perhaps the best and worst place I'd ever been.

My memory slipped back to the last time — to discovering Liam was still alive — to crying against Jaiel's shirt as he reassured me — to meeting my first dragons …

My chest ached at the memories.What I wouldn't give to go back and let Jaiel hold me a little longer …

Tye stopped suddenly, and I stumbled into his back with a yelp. "Ow. What are you —"