Chapter 10 · Untitled Chapter

"Don't move." The blade was already at his throat.

Cyrus froze. Kael's forearm pinned him to the wall, her weight solid against his chest. Her breathing came too fast, too shallow. Light pulsed beneath the ink on her neck and crawled along her jaw.

"Kael—"

"Save it." Her voice was flat, but her wrist trembled. "One more word and I cut."

"You don't want to do this."

"Want's got nothing to do with it." The edge pressed closer. "Rhys gave an order. I answer orders."

Cyrus kept his hands where she could see them. Her pulse beat hard against his forearm. One wrong move, and the knife would open his throat.

"Rhys doesn't control you."

"That's a comforting lie." Her pupils had swallowed most of the brown in her eyes. "Try a better one."

"You broke out. You ran for months. You hid those kids from him. That isn't obedience."

"It was a delay." Her mouth tightened. "Don't dress it up as courage."

"Lien's in the truck."

The ink flashed. Kael's grip tightened.

"Don't use her name."

"Why? Does it hurt?"

"Cyrus."

"There she is." He held her stare. "The woman who knows exactly why Lien matters.