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Just being near him and his magic made me physically nauseous, but I couldn't deny that a small part of me envied his power.

Perhaps if I'd been born with it, Frexin would have only hurt me, and not the others …

Korym laughed. "Oh, what am I saying? As long as it's not my head on the line, I couldn't care less what you do. In fact, pleasedodisobey her. I'd love to witness the punishment you so rightly deserve."

Tye lunged forward as if to grab the man, but Korym moved, and in the blink of an eye was standing next to me, gripping my free arm and pulling me away from a confused Tye.

His touch sent waves of nausea through me, and I resisted the urge to vomit.

Tye wheeled around, yellow eyes wide with surprise, and he grabbed my other arm, preventing Korym from pulling me away.

I pulled against them both, attempting to break free, but neither would let go. The mage's bony fingersdug in tighter, and that sickening slimy feeling of his magic intensified, dulling out everything else.

Was he corrupted … or something else?

"I'm sure your team will fare just fine without the Savior of Karemi," Korym sneered, tugging hard enough to send a dart of pain through my shoulder. "Or do I need to report to Lady Frexin that your mate bond is not quite as under control as she believes?"

Tye stared the other man down, jaw tight, eyes burning.

He looked as if he might murder the mage …

An ear-splitting screech sounded overhead, and Korym and I ducked as more debris rained down around us. A beam crashed down a dozen yards away. Then another even closer.

Then I was off my feet, the world moving in a blur as a third crash exploded right next to me, showering me in splinters.

Warm arms held me tight, a heartbeat thrumming against my cheek. I looked up to see Tye, focused on the spot next to Korym where I'd been crouched just a moment before.

He glared at the broken wood and twisted metal as if they were monsters in need of slaying, and not inanimate objects.

Emotions thrummed through our bond, burning from him to me — fear, desperation — despair.

Korym looked at the beam, his face as shocked as I had felt at the near brush with death.

Then he turned to us, his face twisted into a disgusted glare.

I was suddenlyveryaware of Tye's eyes — now a bright gold — and his muscles rippling under his uniform. Muscles pressed intimately against my body …

Those golden eyes fell to mine, and he released me with a snarl.

I fell to the ground, grunting in pain as I hit. And Tye leaped back as if I were diseased.

"Damnit, Witch," he ground out, turning his focus to Korym. "Get her to her room. I must find Frexin."

Korym didn't look pleased, but he nodded.

Tye's chest rumbled as he looked between me and the mage. "And don't do anything stupid."

"Don't worry,Lieutenant," Korym said. "She will be safe … for tonight."

Tye eyed the man. "Watch out, Korym. You hurt her, and you won't like the consequences."

The battle mage just laughed, pulling me away.

Tye shook his head and strode into the fortress, off in a different direction.

The bond throbbed, exhaustion flooding me as the distance between us grew, until I was left with just the oppressive weight of the collar and the wrongness of Korym's magic.

Korym released me, and I thanked the gods for that small mercy. I didn't know how much more of thatwrongfeeling I could take.