Chapter 16 · That was not a question

"No."

"That was not a question."

"You cut yourself already."

"It is healing."

"Then let it heal."

"You are getting worse."

"I can control it."

A black line crawled across his cheek.

Mara lifted her free hand and touched two fingers to his jaw.

Riven caught her wrist, but he did not pull it away.

His skin was fever-hot beneath her fingers.

"You are a terrible liar," she said.

"And you are reckless."

"That is why we work so well together."

His eyes flicked to hers.

For a moment, the passage narrowed to his hand around her wrist and the hard beat beneath his skin. His grip was careful now. Controlled. That almost made it worse.

"Do not say things like that," he said.

"Why?"

"Because you do not mean them."

"You have no idea what I mean."

"I know you want to survive."

"That is not all I want."

The words came out before she could stop them.

Riven's fingers tightened once.

She saw the question form in his face. She also saw the instant he decided not to ask it.

Good. She did not want to answer.

A guard stepped into the passage.

Riven moved first.