Page 44

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SEREN

T he wind roars in my ears, a wild howl of freedom and finality.

My body plummets through the night, the weightless descent a cruel mockery of the choices I’ve had stolen from me. Cold air lashes against my skin, my hair whipping around my face as the jagged rocks below stretch their unforgiving arms toward me.

This is how it ends.

Not in chains. Not beneath Jalith’s boot. Not as someone’s possession.

My arms spread wide, welcoming the fall.

I should be terrified. I should scream. But there is only a deep, aching sorrow.

Xirath.

A sob catches in my throat. He should be nothing to me. A captor, a warlord, a beast of scales and sharp fangs.

Yet, I miss him.

Not just the man who claimed me. The man who challenged me, fought me, pushed me past every breaking point I thought I had. The man who saw me when no one else did.

A tear slips from my eye, disappearing into the wind before it can reach my lips.

I will never see him again.

Suddenly, I stop falling.

The breath is ripped from my lungs as an unseen force coils around me, yanking me to a halt in midair. My stomach lurches, my limbs flailing as if I’m tangled in invisible chains.

No. No, no, no!

A grating, mocking laughter echoes above me.

"Did you truly think I would let you go so easily, little one?"

Jalith.

He looms at the cliff’s edge, the moonlight casting his dark, regal figure in silver. His crimson eyes gleam with triumph. His lips curl, amusement dripping from every syllable.

I thrash against the unseen hold, but my body refuses to obey. The force gripping me tightens, dragging me upward, back toward the monster I had tried to escape.

"No!" I scream, fury lacing my voice as I struggle. "Let me go!"

The air crackles with energy. My limbs jerk violently against the unseen restraints.

But I am not the one in control.

Jalith’s smirk deepens, his amusement sharp as a dagger. "You didn’t think I’d come unprepared, did you?" He tilts his head, a mockery of sympathy. "What a shame, little one. I accounted for everything. Even this."

The magic holding me in its grasp drags me through the air like a lifeless doll, until my feet scrape against the dirt. My knees buckle, but I refuse to fall.

I grit my teeth, hatred burning through every inch of my being. "I would rather die than be yours."

Jalith tsks, feigning disappointment. "Now, now, let’s not be dramatic. You made me chase you long enough. This ends tonight."

The magic shoves me forward. My body collapses onto my hands and knees, the earth biting into my palms.

Jalith steps toward me, a collar gleaming in his hands.

Cold realization spears through me.

"No—"

I lunge back, but the magic coils around me again, an unseen fist closing around my throat.

"You will be silent," Jalith orders, his voice laced with power.

My throat tightens. My voice vanishes.

My entire body trembles as the collar snaps around my neck, it’s heavy, suffocating. The second it locks into place, a searing pain erupts through my spine.

Agony unlike anything I’ve ever known.

A scream rips from my lips, my body convulsing as raw, electric power lashes through my veins.

Jalith’s lips part in a slow, satisfied grin. "Perfect."

I writhe against the collar’s punishment, my fingers clawing at the metal. The magic woven into it is alive, burrowing into my flesh, branding me as his.

Tears burn at the edges of my vision.

This is worse than death.

Jalith crouches before me, reaching out to brush his fingers along my trembling jaw. I jerk away, but the collar tightens, sending another shock through my limbs.

He watches me convulse, eyes dark with satisfaction. "You will learn, little one. You will kneel when I command it. You will obey."

I gasp, barely able to lift my head. "I—will—kill you."

Jalith only laughs. "Oh, you are exquisite when you’re furious." He leans closer, his breath ghosting against my cheek. "But I promise, soon enough, you will beg for my touch."

Revulsion and rage coil inside me, a storm barely contained. I will kill him. I will tear him apart with my bare hands.

But I am powerless.

Jalith straightens, turning to the robed figure at his side. A dark elf mage, the one responsible for my body’s betrayal.

Jalith flicks his fingers. "Take her. Bind her wrists. And prepare the ceremony chamber. She needs to be properly broken in before we complete the bond."

The mage bows. "As you wish, my lord."

The soldiers step forward, ropes in their hands.

I thrash, but the collar reacts again, sending a final wave of agony through my bones.

As the darkness swallows me whole, I hear Jalith’s final words.

"We have eternity, my little mate. And soon, you will thank me for this."