Page 169 of Hellbound

“I kept telling myself there was another explanation.” His jaw tightened. “So give me one.”

He circled, slow and predatory.

“Someone had to.” She matched his pace, keeping the distance. “The bondsmiths. The children. No one would’ve stopped it. So I did something about it.”

His expression wavered, but he wiped it clean.

He drew his sword in a smooth motion, the tip finding her throat in the blink of an eye.

Ksenia didn’t flinch. “Are you going to kill me, Bohdan?”

She moved her hand toward the table behind her and clenched her fist around Caromir’s bare tang.

“Yes.” But the blade didn’t press forward.

“You won’t.”

“Why is that?”

“If you wanted me dead, you wouldn’t have saved me.” Caromir trembled in her palm.

“I wanted you to prove me wrong.” His voice was tight.

“I won’t, so do it,” she challenged, stepping closer till the tip sank into her skin, crimson rising to the surface.

Through his blade, she could feel the tremor of his hand.

“Confident, for someone who can barely stand.” He lowered it an inch, the tip red.

“Do it.” A wicked smile twisted her lips. “Watching you struggle is pitiful.”

“You don’t know what I’m struggling with.”

The silence stretched.

She thrust Caromir forward, and he caught her wrist mid-reach, twisting it behind her back and disarming her as he spun her around.

His sword clattered to the floor as he used both hands to control her, her back pressed against his chest. “Nice try.”

She drove her elbow back into his ribs and stomped on his foot. He grunted but didn’t release her, adjusting his grip to pin both her arms.

She hooked her foot behind his ankle, throwing her weight backward.

They hit the floor hard. She twisted in his grip like a snake, despite her leaden-feeling limbs.

She got a hand free and closed it around his throat.

He caught her arm, using his weight to roll her beneath him, pinning both her wrists above her head with one hand.

Their faces were inches apart, both breathing hard.

“Are you done?” he asked, voice dark and rough.

“Are you?” She bucked her hips, trying to throw him off.

He settled his weight firmly, melding his hips with hers. His free hand came to rest beside her head. “You’re not strong enough to win this right now. Stop fighting me.”

“I don’t care.”