Draven sat up from his bedroll across the camp, his eyes blazing with fury despite his weakened state. "Touch her," he said in a voice that promised death, "and I'll show you why Father keeps me alive."
More shadows rose, pinning Kael to the ground. The other brothers woke, saw what was happening, and wisely stayed silent.
"How?" Kael gasped. "How are you still strong enough—"
"Because I'm bonded to her. Because every time you threaten her, you give me a reason to fight." Draven stood, crossing the camp with predatory grace. "You were always so busy being jealous of my power that you never learned the most important lesson—power isn't worth anything if you have no one to use it for."
He released Kael with a gesture, but the warning was clear. Try again, and consequences would be fatal.
