Page 151 of Harnessed in Gold

But I haven’t let go of the box.

Whoever has me drags me up the muddy bank, gripping me tightly as he slips and struggles to get us both clear of the water. With his arm still locked around my chest, he collapses onto his back, rasping and coughing the water from his lungs.

His body is familiar. Safe.

I kick at the dirt until he releases me, rolling onto my knees and spinning to look at him. “Leo.”

He hoists himself onto his elbows, his anxious eyes scanning my face. I move to throw my arms around him, but the box in my grip draws me up short. He sits up and grabs my shoulders withtrembling hands. Water drips from his lashes and streams down his face and neck. He’s shivering. Violently.

So am I.

And without the river to protect me, the bracelet does its work, waging a full-scale war on my psyche. I recognize these feelings from the path. I know they’re Ember’s. But an all-at-once assault of rage, self-pity, murderous vengeance, and terror is more than I can bear. My insides are liquefying, my brain melting, my heart exploding.

I thrust the box at Leo, hitting him in the chest. “T… t… take it.”

With a grunt he lets go of my arms and looks down.

Then up at me.

Then down again, his chin slowly dropping and his eyes growing wide. His swallow is loud and hard, his hands hesitant as he slides the box from my frozen fingers. He blinks at it for a moment, and even in the darkness, I can see the realization register on his face. He knows what he’s holding in his hands.

To my shock, he takes one more glance up at me and all but drops the box into the mud and sodden leaves behind him.

“Look at me,” he commands, grabbing my face with his icy hands.

I tear my eyes from that stupid box. I’m so damned cold. So fucking exhausted. I try to say his name, but only a whimper slips past my chattering teeth.

“Harness, a chroí. You need to harness.”

Harness? How? The river must’ve washed away my brain.

Leo’s palms grow warmer. “Don’t fight me.”

Fight him? How could I? I can barely move.

Heat seeps from my neck and cheeks into my skin, radiating up to my head and trickling down my torso and limbs. No longer seized by shivers, I take a long inhale. My mind clears and my muscles spring to life.

Who is this man touching me?

I snarl at him and claw at his hands.

“Betts, don’t,” he warns.

Weakling! Doesn’t he know how powerful I am?I throw all my weight onto his cold, brittle body.Kill him, my instincts demand,he’s in your way.I go for his throat, hungry to choke the life out of him.

When he pushes me back, I laugh and lunge for him again. The poor beast, he’s afraid to hurt me. Gallant, but stupid. I call on the trees around us, commanding them to do my will.

Nothing.

I flick my wrist, but the hemlock above us doesn’t bend. Curl my fingers, but the brambles don’t so much as shudder.

And this man won’t stop grabbing me.

I let out a howl of rage and snatch the nearest rock. No sharp edges. I hurl it away from me in disgust and claw at his arms. He’s strong, and for some reason, I’m weak. I’m never weak. He traps my arms at my sides and pins me to his chest, his calming magic tingling on my skin.

I will not be subdued.

With my bottom lip trapped between my teeth, I slam my chin into his shoulder. Coppery warmth floods my mouth. It doesn’t matter where I bite him; I only need to break the skin. I open wide, baring my teeth and summoning my poison as blood streams down my chin.