Laura's breath caught at his words.

"Mine."

It wasn't a question. It wasn't a claim she could just brush off. It was a fact, said as simply as the sky being blue or the moon pulling the water.

Her heart beat fast against her ribs like a trapped bird. The sound filled her ears, drowning out everything else in the cold room.

Her body still hurt from the broken bond, from the marks all over her skin, but anger burned stronger than pain. It rushed through her veins like fire, making her forget the ache for a moment.

She pulled at the cuffs, not caring how the silver cut into...