Chapter 51 · You keep saying that

"You keep saying that."

"Because every time you do, it takes something from you."

"It took my power years ago."

"No."

The word came out so quietly I almost missed it.

I tightened my grip. "What did you say?"

Julian swallowed against the metal. "Your powers weren't stolen."

The room went still around us.

Even Silas stopped fighting the blade.

I leaned closer. "Say that again."

Julian's breath brushed my cheek. His eyes held mine, and for once there was no golden-boy smile, no clean answer waiting behind his teeth.

"Your powers weren't stolen," he said. "They were sealed."

"By who?"

"The League."

My fingers went numb.

Silas pulled against the pinned sleeve. "Julian."

"You knew?" I asked.

Julian's jaw flexed. "I found out later."

"After you watched them strip me in front of the Council?"

"I wasn't there."

"You were in the building."

"I was trying to reach the vault."

"You were wearing their crest."

"And you think I liked it?"

The collar pulsed under my hands. A thin line of light moved from his throat to my wrists.

Julian's voice dropped. "I went to the vault because I knew they hadn't destroyed your power.