FIA
I had been in this cell for more than twenty-three hours. I knew because I'd been counting. Counting the seconds. Counting the minutes. Counting every breath that made my ribs ache against the cold stone wall I was leaning against.
The mate bond was a constant throb in my chest. Like a bruise that wouldn't heal. I'd been trying to shield it. Trying to keep my emotions locked down tight so he wouldn't feel them through the connection. So he wouldn't know I was breaking.
But I was tired. So tired. And the shield was slipping.
I could feel him on the other side of it. His contempt. His anger. It bled through the bond in waves that made me want to curl up on the thin cot and never move again. But I wouldn't. I refused to give him that satisfaction.
