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Force a Nyrith bond? Did Cornaith know?

The idea that magic could alter my very biology to forge a Nyrith bond with someone I wasn’t meant to be tied to sent a chill down my spine. It already upset me that magic existed to tear me away from my bonds with the guys. Now this?

What disturbed me even more was the idea that Dugorigi would forcibly pair his son with someone, ignoring the possibility that his son’s Nyrith might still be out there.

“Does Cornaith know?”

“He was boasting about how well his plan had worked.”

“Sounds like Cornaith,” I muttered.

“So I’m learning. He told me what Dugorigi intended to do once you reached the northeast. They’ve gone too far. Forcing a Nyrith pairing is a violation of the sacred gift Fate grants us. I can’t accept it, so I’m helping you get out of here.”

I refrained from mentioning that her willingness to let them destroy my bond with Ash was also a violation. If she were willing to set me free, then arguing semantics wasn’t the right call.

“What’s that?”

She flicked the syringe and squirted a little into the air. “This should override the effects of Bondrot temporarily, giving you the chance to get back to the princes.”

“What?” I set the fruit bowl aside and shifted back on the bed. “You’re gonna put that in me? What’s in it?”

She turned sharp, angry eyes on me. “Do you really have the time to be picky?”

I held my hands up. She was right.

“I don’t know how you got better recently, but if you hadn’t, this wouldn’t work.” She turned to me. “Think of it like an adrenaline shot. You’ll have a limited time to get back to the palace.”

“Are you coming with me?”

“I can’t. I need to be here when they arrive.”

“Won’t they know you helped me?”

“I’ll figure something out,” she muttered, holding her hand out. “Give me your arm.”

I held up a hand and backed against the wall. “Wait. I don’t know how to get back to the palace.”

“Just run. You’ll get there. It’s visible from everywhere in the city.”

Banging on the door echoed from the other room, drawing our attention.

“We’re out of time.” She grabbed my arm and yanked it toward her. “This won’t last long, so cover as much distance as you can. The closer you get to them, the less Bondrot will affect you.”

I winced as she drove the needle into my arm. The moment she pressed the plunger, a sharp, burning pain shot through my arm, making me slap my other hand over my mouth to stifle a scream.

Seconds later, my breathing quickened and a sudden sense of hyper-awareness surged through me, followed by euphoria that almost made me forget what was happening until another loud bang on the door pulled me back to the present.

I scrambled to slip on my combat boots left beside the bed.

“We’re in the basement, but there’s a hatch in the bathroom ceiling. Climb onto the side of the bathtub, and you’ll be able to pull yourself through. Once up there, crawl through to the first opening on the left. Once you pass through that, you’ll be in a room with a window leading to a fire escape.”

“Okay.” I nodded, my heart pounding so hard I thought she’d see it through my clothes. “First left. Fire escape.”

“Now go. I can only stall them so long.” She put a hand on mine. “For whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t say it was worth anything, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I needed to get to that fire escape.

She stood and left the room, answering the door with a pleasant greeting.