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Rexton’s wet hand curls around my arm, forcibly stopping me from teleporting. It’s damn near impossible to stop a demon from teleporting. At most, a demon can initiate physical contact and trail along. That’s not happening, though. Rexton is fighting against my power, using his own to keep us inside the war camp.

How is he doing it? Even Aziel can’t fucking do that, not to a demon as strong as me. Silas can, probably because he’s old as fuck and has the fates backing him up. Valeria can, too.

“Stop it,” I hiss.

Rexton shakes his head, gritting his teeth. He’s keeping me here, but it’s not easy. “No.”

I try again, fully prepared to drain myself if that’s what it takes. This is a battle of wills, and I’m incredibly fucking stubborn. If Rexton wants to keep me here, I hope he’s prepared to drain himself to do so.

Water splashes over the side of the tub and onto my feet as Rexton rises, his movements annoyingly agile. I try again to teleport, ignoring the pain in my chest. I’m still not fully healed and shouldn’t be exerting myself like this. It’s hindering my healing.

Rexton grunts.

I’m yanked forward.

I can’t make sense of what’s happening as I trip over the porcelain lip of the tub, and I have just enough time to gasp before my head is forced underneath the water. My hair sticks to my face, and bubbles fly out of my mouth as I attempt to scream.

Is Rexton trying to drown me? Does he think that’s going to work? I’m scared of a limited number of things, and drowning sure isn’t one of them. Let him fucking drown me. I’ll murder his parents dripping wet.

Two hands cup either side of my head, then lift my face from the water. I draw in a ragged breath and let out a loud, mocking laugh before being shoved back underneath the surface. I’m not held down for long. Rexton pulls me out after only a few seconds.

I immediately try again to teleport.

“Fuck, Cassia,” Rexton hisses. “Stop!”

I try to teleport again. My chest is burning, and my broken ribs ache.

Rexton hauls me out of the tub, and I clutch his biceps in a sad attempt to remain upright as he shoves me against the desk. He’s trying so hard to keep me here, but he has no idea what I’m capable of.

They hurt Rexton. I’m going to kill them. It’s as simple as that.

Rexton makes brief eye contact with me before burying his face against my neck. I should expect this, I really should, but I find myself shocked and unprepared as he sinks his teeth into my sensitive skin, threatening me with a bonding mark.

Every muscle in my body is taut, and I dig my fingers into his biceps as his warm breath washes over my wet skin. I stop trying to teleport, my focus now on the teeth in my neck and the naked man pressed against me.

He wouldn’t dare.

Chapter Thirty-Six

CASSIA

REXTON’S FROZEN AGAINST me. He’s not fighting, not moving, not even breathing.

He’s so clearly out of his element, and I’d laugh at him if his teeth weren’t currently holding me captive. He thought he could give me a taste of my own medicine, but we aren’t the same. I’m crazy. I’m self-aware enough to admit that.

Rexton isn’t. He knows the implications of what he’s just done, and he’s panicking.

He still hasn’t removed his teeth from my neck.

I gulp, my lower back aching where it presses against the desk. Rexton’s entire body is pressed against mine, and my clothes are soaked from his failed drowning attempt. He couldn’t see it through. My lips curl as I think about that, and I swallow past the lump in my throat before trailing my hand up Rexton’s bare back.

Everywhere I touch is covered in scars. They’re rough against my palm, and the physical proof of his pain rejuvenates my anger. How could they? Most Wraths wouldn’t be pleased to give birth to a shadow, but this treatment is so far beyond what’s tolerated within the kingdom.

Why wasn’t he removed from his home? His doctors should’ve noted the abuse, and somebody should’ve stepped in and separated Rexton from his parents. Why didn’t that happen? Probably because of their wealth. His parents weren’t nobility, but they had enough money and influence to make their problems disappear.

Rexton shivers as I touch his back, but he doesn’t ask me to stop.

I don’t volunteer to do so, either.