Chapter 39 · Cracks in the Gold

"Run, Vesper. Don't make me drag you." Julian's hand closed around my wrist before I could reach the broken service door.

I twisted hard. The soul-bind flashed under my skin, hot enough to make my fingers jerk.

"Let go."

"No."

"You don't get to say no to me."

"Funny. The contract says I do."

His grip tightened. Not enough to bruise. More than enough to remind me that he could stop me if he wanted.

Behind us, something slammed into the steel shutters. The whole back room jumped. Dust shook loose from the ceiling and sprinkled my hair.

Julian glanced at the door, then at me. His golden League jacket was torn across the shoulder. A thin line of blood ran from his temple to his jaw. Under the blood, pale cracks crawled over his skin like somebody had scored him with a blade.

"You saw that," I said.

"I felt it."

"Your arm is splitting open."

"And your solution is to leave me here?"

"My solution is to stop standing around until the hunters cut us both apart."

Another impact hit the shutters. Metal screamed.

Julian shoved me toward the service door. "Then move."

I caught the handle.