What…what was happening? Was it some kind of magic—Primal essence? It had to be. But how would Teerman be able to harness such a power? He wasn’t—
Piercing pain stabbed my temples, silencing that train of thought and leaving me stunned until the torment faded.
That fucking smirk I hated was plastered on Teerman’s cruelly handsome face as he trailed his slender fingers over the wooden trim of the settee. He tsked under his breath. “I know what you need.”
I was going to vomit.
“And I’ll give it to you.” His arm dropped to his side, and I realized he hadn’t been stroking the wooden frame. It was thecane. The reddish-black wood shone in the filtered sunlight. “Just how you like it.”
I wasreallygoing to vomit.
But afterward.
He stalked closer.
Every sense felt heightened. Every muscle tensed for the next move. “Don’t…come near me,” I spat.
“You’re safe with me,” he swore.
No.I shook my head.Lies.I couldn’t fall for it. Fall for him and his pretty words, his promises of love and devotion. They were lies. He was incapable of—
The room around me melted away, and I saw gold—golden floors and the bars of a gilded cage.
I drew back, my heart racing as I sucked in a stuttered breath. I blinked rapidly. The vision—or memory—was brief. The golden bars disappeared, but it served as a potent reminder of what could happen if I believed his words.
I would be trapped.
Caged.
That would never happenagain.
My heart calmed as my gaze locked with his.
Pain and something akin to sorrow settled into his features. Neither emotion looked right on his pale skin as his chest rosewith a deep breath and his shoulders squared. I saw the moment he realized I was readying myself to fight my way out.
And I knew he would do everything within his power to prevent me from leaving.
Never again.
Latching onto the anger, I pulled on it, letting it entrench itself deep in my bones, seep into my muscles, and flow through my veins. Eather pulsed.
He sighed. “I guess we’re doing this, aren’t we?”
I launched myself at him.
He effortlessly dodged my attack. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
His words were like a strike of flint against steel, igniting another explosion of fury inside me. Catching myself on the bedpost, I spun and kicked out, aiming for his legs.
In the back of my head, I knew it wasn’t as fluid as it should’ve been—the twist and kick were stiff. I was too slow, and he was already anticipating my next move, easily leaping over me. I sprang up and turned as he faced me, landing a solid punch to his stomach.
Stumbling back, he let out a laugh. “Ouch.”
I swung again, but he blocked it with his forearm. Undeterred, I threw a punch toward his jaw. This time, he wasn’t fast enough to dodge. My fist connected with his face, knocking his head back. Satisfaction surged, but I didn’t waste time. I whirled toward the door.
He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back against his chest. His breath tickled my cheek as he whispered, “I know you can fight better than this.”
A low growl rumbled in my throat as I lifted a leg to stomp on his foot.
