The floor tilted beneath me.
Heat surged through my chest, veins burning like molten iron. Every heartbeat thundered against the golden tether until I thought it would split me apart.
I fell to my knees.
"Ayla!"
Kael's voice cracked as he lunged toward me, but Cassia twisted the dagger deeper against her own throat, laughing through blood.
"Take one more step, Kael," she hissed, "and she'll die before you even touch her. The bond will tear her to shreds."
Kael froze mid-stride, claws flexing, teeth bared. His wolf growled so violently the air trembled, yet his eyes were locked on me with something raw — desperation.
"Ayla," he rasped. "Stay with me. Look at me."
But my vision swam, flames and shadow colliding in my skull. Every nerve screamed. The tether burned so hot it felt like it was dragging my very soul out of my body.
