Chapter 28 · Make the City Remember

The shadow was inside him.

I could see it moving under Kane's skin, black veins spreading across his chest from where his own shadow had torn through. His eyes were still gray. Still his. But the thing wearing his face was grinning like it had already won.

"Evelyn." Kane's voice came out rough, barely a whisper. "Run."

I didn't move.

The blood gate behind us was splitting wider, red light pouring through the crack. The air smelled like copper and rot. My curse sight was screaming at me, showing me the threads of the shadow wrapped around Kane's heart, squeezing.

He'd given me the knife. The only weapon that could kill him.

It was still in my hand, blade slick with his blood.

"Use it," Kane said. His whole body was shaking now, muscles locked tight like he was fighting something I couldn't see. "Before I—before it—"

The shadow inside him surged. Kane's head snapped back, and when he looked at me again, his eyes flickered. Gray to black and back.

"I can't," I said.

His jaw clenched. "You have to."

"No." I dropped the knife.

Kane made a sound that might've been a laugh or a sob.