He rose to his feet and clipped each wrist cuff to the upper arms of the X. She tugged on them and found no give. Her legs wouldn't move either.
Anxiety surged into her like a tidal wave, filling her completely between one breath and the next. She yanked on the arm restraints harder. “I—”
A firm hand tipped her face up. He moved in front of her, hiding her from the room, his gaze on hers. “Take yourself a breath, darlin'. I'm here, and you're safe. Do you remember my name?”
She sucked air, and the panic drained away as if he'd pulled a plug. “Master Marcus.” Embrace the fear, then step past it. “I-I don't know why I reacted like that.”
His hand against her face gentled her nerves, and he stood close enough she could feel his warm breath on her temple. “It's a normal fear. You're new, a
