Chapter 29 · The Deal Mom Made

"Don’t touch that seal." Julian’s hand closed around my wrist before my fingers reached the black metal disk.

His grip burned. Blood had soaked through his shirt and warmed my palm.

I twisted hard. "Take your hand off me."

"Tell me what you saw."

"The same thing you saw."

"Try again."

Behind us, the broadcast screen stuttered. My mother’s face froze in blue light, her mouth caught around one word.

Celeste.

Then the memory snapped back.

My mother stood there twenty years younger, already exhausted. She held the Vale seal in both shaking hands. Across from her, Celeste Rook smiled in a white ceremonial coat.

The city had watched the first half of the memory live. They’d seen my mother kneel. They’d seen Celeste take the seal. They’d seen the saint’s miracle fail the instant the metal left my mother’s hand.

Now everyone was waiting for the rest.

Julian dragged me from the console. His shoulder struck the stone wall. He winced, but his grip didn’t loosen.

"Why did she give it to Celeste?" he demanded.

I shoved his chest. "Because Celeste threatened her."

"With what?"

"Me."

His fingers tightened. "Don’t lie to me, Mara."

"I’m not.