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Kyldare watches us from behind his witch’s ward.

Bridin has turned gray, her face lined, as if holding her own ward against Calysian’s power has drained the life from her.

Good.

Kyldare’s eyes meet mine, and there’s something I don’t recognize within them. His hateful voice crawls over my skin.

“Ah. So Calpharos walks this world once more. Whoring yourself to the dark god won’t save you, Madinia Farrow. I’ll take you back. And when I do, you’llwishfor the days when you were left alone in your tower.”

Calysian snarls. Fear flashes across Kyldare’s face, and he gestures to his witch. Her ward remains high, and they disappear into the forest.

My head spins, my body breaking out into chills.

“Coward,” Calysian hisses, before dropping to his knees in front of me. “Are you hurt?”

Kyldare’s words echo through my head, over and over again.“I’ll take you back. And when I do, you’ll wish for the days when you were left alone in your tower.”

“Madinia.”

A flap of wings. “What did you do?” Eamonn demands. “I could barely see through all your smoke.”

I’m shuddering, vision narrowing as my entire body breaks out in chills. “I won’t be taken back.” My lips are numb, but the words come out anyway, repeating on a loop. “I’llnevergo back.”

My heart pounds like a drum, echoing in my ears until it’s all I can hear. Calysian’s lips move, but there’s…nothing.

Just as there was nothing for three years.

Sometimes…sometimes I would almost look forward to Kyldare’s visits. Because I could feel my mind cracking. And despite his viciousness, despite his torture, at least for the short time when he was there, I was allowed to move. To talk.

“I’ll slit my own throat before I go back,” I choke out.

Calysian’s hands move to my shoulders, and he gives me a gentle shake.

Our eyes meet.

“He will never take you,” he vows. “If ever such a thing was to happen, I would come for you. And I would kill him.”

I let out a shuddery breath. “Why?” My voice is hoarse.

“Because this universe has laws. I know this in my bones. And one of those laws is that Madinia Farrow is no one’s captive. She is no one’s victim. You know this, despite your terror telling you otherwise.”

Shoving his hands away, I stumble to my feet. “Youtried to make me a captive.”

He sighs. “Atemporarycaptive. One I would have left with unspeakable wealth.”

I curl my lip at him, and amusement flickers across his face. “There you are.” His hand cups my face, and amusement turns to a strange kind of tenderness.

Slowly, he leans down. I can see his intention in his eyes. I have more than enough time to push him away. To turn my head.

But I don’t.

His mouth is a gentle, warm caress. He teases my lips open, stroking with his tongue, and I sigh against him.

No.

I don’t want gentle from this man.

I nip at his lower lip, and he stiffens. One of his huge hands is suddenly buried in my hair, holding me steady for him as his tongue strokes mine, exploring every inch of my mouth. His hard body crowds mine, walking me backward until my back meets the unyielding trunk of a tree.