Page 133

“And this can all be over.”

His fingers skimmed her cheek once more. This was a tradition so old in their Circle, it was often a beautiful commitment. He was twisting it into something foul.

“I can watch over you.”

A promise or warning, she wasn’t sure which.

“And finally ensure that you are taken care of.”

She closed her eyes as he spoke, weighing her options.

Only hours ago, it had felt like she had none.

Now, she somehow had even less.

Slang flickered across her thoughts. The tiny serpents had vanished, their protection apparently over. But she knew there had to be other ways to invoke Slang’s Bite—as she had in the meadow with Valus before.

That knowledge was enough to steel her. She shoved against him.

But he was stronger.

His grip held firm, pinning her down as she struggled to remember—how had she done it last time?

“No.” The word tore from her throat, low and furious, then she clamped her mouth shut.

“You’re making this so much harder than it needs to be.” Valus sighed. “You can either eat them now or when we’re officially mated. I’d prefer now so that I don’t have to worry about anymore… missteps.”

With one hand, he forced her onto her knees. With the other, he pulled out the small, indigo berries.

“You need me,” he murmured. “Let me lead you back to the path of purity. Of faithfulness.”

Peri pressed her lips together so tightly they went numb.

“Let me feed you, Peri.” His fingers, sticky with crushed berries, smeared juice across her mouth. “Just open for me.”

Then his voice softened, coaxing. “Come on, Peri.” He tilted his head, his tone thick with mock sympathy. “Look at you. You’re like a helpless baby bird. Floundering. Fighting against those who only want to help you.”

His hand slipped from her chin to the back of her head—too fast for her to react.

He yanked her hair, pulling her head back.

“You know,” he murmured, his breath against her cheek, “you don’t have to open willingly.”

A scream built in her chest, but she didn’t let it out. Instead, she forced her mind to focus—on one sentence, over and over, until it rampaged inside her.

Don’t. Touch. Me.

The fear inside her ignited.

It burnt.

Rage seared through her veins, crackling like lightning. She wrenched her chin free, angling her head—

—and then slammed her horn upward.

A sickening squelch.

Valus screamed.