第2章

Theron's reply didn't come until dawn.

"Dissolving the bond requires you to reclaim the Elven artifact you entrusted to him."

"The Silver Leaf Vine bracelet must be severed by your own hand."

"Once the severance begins, your body will endure immense pain."

"Are you certain about this?"

I replied with a single word without hesitation: "Yes."

The bracelet had always been locked in the safe in Jason's study.

He'd said it was the symbol of our love, that it needed to be kept secure, never to be touched by anyone.

Now I saw it for what it was: a shackle he'd used to keep me trapped.

The next afternoon, sunlight glared through the windows.

Jason finally came home.

He reeked of alcohol.

And the rose perfume Vivian always wore.

The two scents mingled into something nauseating.

He tossed a black velvet box onto the bed.

"Alright, I'm not holding last night against you.

"Vivian picked this out as a peace offering for you. She's tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

"Mom's birthday party is tonight. Put this on and come with me."

I didn't look at the box. I met his gaze calmly.

"Where's my bracelet?"

Jason faltered, his hand freezing mid-motion on his tie.

"What bracelet?"

"The Silver Leaf one I gave you.

"Since we're going to a birthday party, I'd like to wear it."

Something unnatural flashed through Jason's eyes, quickly smothered by irritation.

"That bracelet's too plain. It doesn't suit a formal occasion like tonight.

"Vivian picked out this necklace for you. It's a much better match."

He pulled off his tie, tossed it on the couch, and came over to put his arm around my shoulders.

"Be good. Don't be ungrateful. Vivian stayed up drinking with the guys all night just to smooth things over between us.

"She doesn't hold your awful behavior from yesterday against you, and she even went out of her way to pick a gift for you. What more could you possibly want?"

I stepped aside to avoid his touch and reached over to open the box on the bed.

Inside was no necklace.

It was a crude black leather collar.

Dangling from its center was a metal tag engraved with the word "Pet."

It was a dog collar.

I lifted my eyes to Jason. My gaze was ice.

"She picked this out specially, did she?"

Jason rubbed his nose, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, but he doubled down anyway.

"Vivian says the punk style is all the rage right now."

Two years ago, he'd traced his fingers along the nape of my neck after we'd been intimate.

He'd said my skin was so delicate that even pure silver left red marks.

He'd promised me only the finest jewelry, the only kind worthy of me.

Now he thought I deserved a rough leather dog collar.

All to humor Vivian's little game.

I closed the box and dropped it, packaging and all, into the trash can.

"I don't need this garbage."

Jason's temper flared.

"Aria! How long are you going to keep this up?"

Just then, his phone rang.

The screen flashed Vivian's name with a red heart beside it.

He answered immediately, his voice melting into tenderness.

"What's wrong? Is your stomach acting up again?

"Stay put. Did you take your medicine? I'll be right there to take you to the doctor."

He hung up and headed for the door without a backward glance.

At the doorway, he paused.

"Ari, be good. Vivian's all alone right now. I can't just let something happen to her.

"Stay home and do your makeup. I'll take her to the doctor and come right back to pick you up for the hotel.

"And stop being petty about the bracelet. Next month is our anniversary. I'll take you to Paris and get you a custom Cartier set. How about that?"

That was always his way.

Dangling empty promises to cover up his favoritism.

"And just so you don't go out and cause another scene, I'm taking the spare key.

"Stay put and wait for me. And don't give my mother attitude."

Click.

The door locked from the outside.

I stood in the empty apartment, looking at the dog collar in the trash, feeling nothing at all.

I walked to the study.

He'd never told me the combination to the safe.

I tried Jason's birthday. Wrong.

I tried Vivian's birthday.

Beep. The safe swung open.

Inside were stacks of business documents and a few jewelry boxes.

The Silver Leaf bracelet was the one thing missing.

I searched every corner, even the hidden compartment.

The bracelet was gone.

Without it, forcing the bond's dissolution would kill me from the backlash.

My phone screen lit up.

A photo from Vivian.

In the picture, my Silver Leaf bracelet was clasped around her ankle.