Suddenly, he moved back.

Maximus blinked rapidly. His eyes flickered, the amber glow receding as green fought its way back to the surface. He jerked away from me as if burned, his massive frame shuddering with the effort of restraining himself.

“No,” he growled, his voice hoarse but distinctly his own again. He backed away, putting distance between us. “I won’t do this.”

Raven whimpered in protest, still in control of my body, reaching for him.

“Listen to ...