Page 171 of Infernal Bonds

She crossed her arms. “Had you told your father we’d discussed it already, this wouldn’t be an issue. But I refuse to have him believe he can control me too.”

She didn’t understand.

Father needed to believe he held the power. Control meant everything to him, and if he believed she’d decided for herself, he’d find another condition to place on her that’d restrict her further. I couldn’t let him do that, even if it made me the villain in her eyes.

If it meant I could protect her, I’d become her villain.

I took a step forward. “You will continue as you have, but you will acknowledge to Father that you understand his command.”

She stepped back, staring at me as if attempting to find the punchline to the joke.

She wouldn’t find one.

“I can’t do that, Ezra.”

I closed the remaining distance between us, and her back hit the wall. I grabbed her wrist, my shadows once again moving inside me with restless energy. “You can, and you will.”

“What’s up with you? I thought you’d understand.”

I propped my arm above her head on the wall, and her breath hitched as I crowded her space. The small sound made another ripple pass beneath my skin. Being alone with her had started to prove taxing on my control.

She looked down at my grip on her wrist and then back up at me.

“I do understand. Trust me, I understand more than you can even comprehend. But now that you’re here, you need to play the same game we all play.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice cracked when she asked, “Why?”

“Because not playing the game will have considerably worse consequences for you—and the others.”

“The others?”

“You know we’ve done whatever it takes to keep Father from focusing on Zeke. If we don’t comply, he turns his attention to Zeke in the form of punishments or assignments he hates. Father targets him to remind us of our place and the power he holds over us.”

She looked to the side, her eyes closing, likely recalling our previous discussions. It wasn’t only Father’s immortality that continued to bind us to this game. She needed to remember what she’d learned about Father and what he’d done to Zeke. If she did, I was confident she’d reconsider fighting this.

“I won’t let him hurt them.” Her narrowed eyes met mine. “Fine. You win.”

My lip curled. I hated that her compliance wasn’t willful. But if I needed to manipulate her feelings for the others to keep her safe, I’d do it. Even if she hated me for it.

She pushed forward to get around me, but I still held her wrist in my grip. I couldn’t make myself move.

“Raelynn.”

“No. I don’t wanna hear it. I’m gonna be another pawn in your stupid game, but I’m not gonna stand here and listen to anything else you have to say.” She jerked her hand back, but I didn’t let go.

My thumb rubbed over her wrist. “You will listen,” I said, my voice lowering to a softer cadence. “You will listen to me because it’s for your own good.”

Her own voice softened as if bending to mine. “What?”

“I will do everything within my power to protect you. But I cannot defy Father. If you fight me, I won’t be able to protect you from him.”

“I don’t need you to—” She gasped and looked down at her leg, eyes widening.

I followed her gaze to see one of my shadows sliding up her leg to the hem of her skirt, curling and writhing against her thigh.

Only then did I realize my mistake.

My blood turned to ice in my veins as I looked at the shadows that’d broken through my carefully constructed defenses. They moved of their own accord around us, teasing across Raelynn’s skin.