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His body heat pressed into mine as he stood behind me, taking slow controlled breaths as if this were some kind of torture. His hands worked slowly at the ties of my burgundy dress, lingering with his touch until it loosened.

The dress slipped free, sliding down my body and pooling at my feet, leaving nothing between us.

His gaze clung to my curves, and my skin began to tingle with his arousal. It sunk into the well of power in my chest.

“Trace my scars,” I commanded, voice carrying a hint of magic. His warm hands pressed against my skin, trailing over the jagged flesh that had knitted back together.

I hated the way I leant into his warmth without releasing.

“Every single one the these were your fault,” I whispered, a shiver pressing through me at his touch. “I will make you pay for it.”

I turned, and his eyes dropped to my breasts, but I noticed the faint a sheen of tears.

He said nothing.

A smirk clung to my lips as I pulled on the form-fitting tunic, lacy undergarments and white form fitting pants, dressing slowly.

I dropped the white combat boots that matched his own on the ground with a dull thud.

Helion swallowed hard, watching me with a guarded expression.

“Put my boots on,” I whispered, looking up at him through my lashes.

He chuckled under his breath, schooling his features into an amused mask to hide whatever sadness he was suppressing and dropped to his knees. “You don’t need to waste your powers on me,” he said, sliding his hand down my calf with a warmth that took my breath away. “If you want me on my knees for you,” he murmured with a smirk, without breaking eye contact as he slid my foot into the boot, “all you have to do is ask.”

Something raw inside me cracked open at his words, something long neglected and starved for attention. The thing that Rythos had only just started to heal.

The bond stirred in response, warming in my chest as though it were trying to soothe the fracture. It pulled at me, urging me toward him, like his touch might be the only thing capable of putting me back together.

I gasped, my breaths turning shallow as I took a step back, forcing it down and shoving the feeling into the darkest part of my soul where it couldn’t reach me.

Rythos is the only male who can make me feel seen.

Helion paused, a knowing look settling over his features, devoid of amusement. Almost pitying, as though he understood exactly what I was feeling.

Fuck.

I slammed my mental walls down. If this bond was the same as my bond with Rythos, he could feel my emotions.

“Take your pleasantries and choke on them,” I seethed.

Helion’s chuckle trickled out of him in a warm wave of amusement. “You can choke me anytime, Sunshine,” he said, tilting his head back as if to offer me his throat.

The door slammed open, making me startle. Helion placed his hands behind his back, eyes burning into mine. Two guards in pale armour that looked disturbingly like bone stepped into the bedchamber, lengths of rope coiled in their fists.

“Don’t fight,” Helion warned, dropping to his knees.

One of the guards, a lithe male, stalked towards me while the other bound Helion’s hands behind his back.

My heart slammed against my ribs like an anxious bird unable to take flight as I looked at the rope in his hand.

A knife slicing through my flesh, over and over again. The metallic scent of blood flooding my nostrils. Metal cuffs digging into my wrists. Tears dripping down my face.

I lunged at him.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he moved fast, his hand snapping out to catch my wrist before I could fully reach him. I twisted sharply, using the momentum to my advantage and jumped, my legs wrapped around his waist as I tried to drag him down.

He grunted. A hand slammed against the ground to steady himself as he fought for balance.