Chrystal used her mate bond consciously. With purpose. Sharing none of her discomfort with Castian.
But this time, it wasn’t painful. It was just strange.
Her awareness of her surroundings was significantly heightened. She was hearing the heartbeat of every creature in the room.
Just like when she and Castian drank the potion from the witch, she was seeing everywhere in the space she stood, as if at the same time, down to the ants and spiders in the cracks.
Everyone was seated now.
“Braying, snarling, snapping at me,” she continued steadily.
Her eyes moved to the King, then the witch, moving between the two leaders. “They need to believe me prisoner here. They need to believe that I am forced to be a mediator, not a willing one.”
She kept her hand on her mate, feeling his heart beat
