Chapter 20 · You want honesty? Fine. The contract has a second clause

He caught my knife hand again, but this time his palm covered mine. His skin was warm. His thumb slid over the edge of the mark without touching the blade.

The contact sent a shock through my arm.

His breath brushed my cheek. "You want honesty? Fine. The contract has a second clause."

Every guard in the room heard him.

Vale's eyes narrowed. "What second clause?"

Julian didn't look away from me. "If either bound party is marked for extraction, the other becomes the authorized executor."

My stomach dropped.

"Meaning?" Vale demanded.

"Meaning whoever comes for me can use her to reach me. Whoever comes for her can use me to reach her."

I pulled my hand free. "No. That's not what you said before we signed."

"I didn't know."

The lie hit the link like a spark.

I felt his guilt. Not vague guilt. Specific. Heavy. He knew exactly when he had learned it.

And he knew who had shown him.

"Try again," I said.

His face tightened. "I didn't know the full wording."

"Still a lie."

Vale looked between us. "Vesper, step away from him."

"No."

"That's an order."

"Then have Julian give it.