Chapter 45 · You planned this

He looked down. "What—"

Chains of hard light shot from the floor and wrapped around his legs. He hit one knee. The golden light crawled up his body, locking his arms against his sides.

Alden pointed the shard at him. "The contract recognizes him as the anchor. Remove the anchor, and your power comes loose."

"You planned this," Julian said.

"Of course I did."

"Why bring her here?"

"Because she won't let me kill you. Not yet."

I moved before he finished speaking.

Alden flicked two fingers. A wall of force slammed into my chest and threw me across the chamber. My back hit a support pillar. Pain cracked through my ribs.

"Vesper!" Julian shouted.

I shoved away from the pillar. "I'm fine."

"You sound like hell."

"I've sounded worse."

"You don't have to prove anything to me."

"Good, because I wasn't talking to you."

I formed a shield spear and drove it into the force wall. The impact screamed through my teeth. Cracks spread across the barrier.

Alden's expression hardened. "You still fight like a cornered animal."

"You made me one."

"I made you useful."

"You made me disposable.