Page 82 of Blood Ties

Her expression changed, but she didn’t soften. “I’m still furious with you. I haven’t forgotten what you did or how long you kept it from me. I also know you won’t hand me to him. Both things can be true, so stop trying to send me away and help me end this.”

The Crown forced another command into the collar. My arm jerked. I hauled the chain tighter, and my knees struck the floor.

Bryony flinched but stayed where she was. She understood the trap now. If she came close, Adrian could use my body against her. If she cut the restraint too early, the command would have nothing holding me back.

“Tell me what to do,” she said.

“Take the sword to the white line. Put the blade flat against it and order Harrowmere to close the captain’s command.”

She backed towards the rail without turning away from me. “And then?”

“Then the red light dies.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Bryony asked.

“It will.”

Her stare sharpened. “Try again.”

The old answer would have been a promise I couldn’t keep. I held her gaze while the chain crushed my next breath.

“If it doesn’t, you leave me here and get into Cecily’s room.”

“Fuck that.” She put the sword against the white line.

“Bryony.”

She looked straight at me. “You chose to come through a wall for me. I’m choosing to get both of us out.”

Pride and fear hit me together. I couldn’t speak around the collar, so I gave her the smallest nod I could manage.

She reached the rail and laid the sword against the white line. “Harrowmere, close the false command carried by Lenora’s seal. Keep your captain alive. Reject Adrian Rook.”

The house went still.

Adrian’s red light held for one long second. Then the line Bryony had cut began to darken from the sword towards the dais.

“You don’t understand what you’re refusing,” Adrian said.

“I understand you want it,” Bryony replied. “That’s enough for tonight.”

White light climbed the pillars. The loose chains crashed to the floor, and the raven seal dropped onto the dais. The order in my body weakened, but the Crown kept its hold on the collar. My fist stayed locked around the chain.

Bryony stepped over the rail.

“Stay there,” I managed.

“The red light is gone.”

“The Crown isn’t.”

She looked at the throne. The metal points above it remained red. My restraint pulled once more, trying to turn me towards her.

I dragged the chain tighter.

Bryony stopped. Her gaze moved from my face to the iron wrapped around my fist, then followed it to the collar buried in my bleeding throat.

She finally understood the purpose of the chain.