Chapter 25 · The Third Seat

"You don't get to hide behind me again," I said, fist twisted in Kaiser's coat.

His breath brushed my mouth. Cold. Unsteady. His hand was still bleeding where I had torn the white bone mark from his palm.

Behind him, Varan lifted his sword.

"Sula," Varan warned, "step away from Kaiser. Now."

"No." I tightened my grip. "He gave me the command key. I'm using it."

Kaiser's eyes dropped to my mouth, then climbed back to mine. The look lasted half a second too long.

"The person in that room stopped me from saving you," he said. "If you walk in first, they may use you to control me again."

"Good. Let them try."

"You don't know what you're walking into."

"I know exactly what I'm walking into." I shoved him back against the sealed throne-room doors. "The woman who stole my place. The voice that ordered my marrow cut out. And a throne that has been feeding on this fortress for years."

Varan moved beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. Heat rolled off him through his armor.