Chapter 16 · Dangerous Echo

"Give it to me, Elara."

Kane's voice was a low growl, vibrating right against my ear.

Before I could blink, his hand clamped around my wrist. He slammed me back against the mahogany desk. The wood bit into my spine. Heat radiated off him in waves—not warmth, but a fever. He smelled like ozone and old blood.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied. My voice shook. I tried to shove the leather book further behind the papers, but he was faster.

He yanked my arm back. My chest flushed against his leather tunic. I could hear his heart hammering—too fast, too heavy. A war drum in a small room.

"You're a terrible liar," he whispered. He wasn't looking at the book. He was looking at my lips. "Your pulse is jumping in your neck. I can practically taste the panic. Now. Where is it?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. *Drain the King's blood.* The words were burned into my mind. If he found that book, he wouldn't just burn the pages. He'd burn me.

"It's nothing! Just some old records Silas left!"

Kane let out a sharp, humorless huff. He didn't let go.