Chapter 28 · The Choice

"Hello, Ivy."

Marcus's voice slid through the smoke before I saw his face. Calm. Almost friendly.

Then he stepped over the shattered door frame, and Rex crossed the room in a blur, claws out.

"Give me three seconds," Rex snarled, "and I'll give you a reason to stop smiling."

Marcus didn't look at him. His cold green eyes stayed on me. "You won't touch me. Not if you want her alive."

Cain caught Rex by the shoulder and hauled him back. The silver marks beneath Cain's shirt flared against his skin.

"Talk," Cain said. "Fast."

Marcus reached inside his black suit jacket. Slow enough to make every eye follow his hand.

He pulled out a narrow glass vial filled with dark red liquid.

"I brought the cure."

My stomach turned. "You're lying."

"Am I?"

He set the vial on the table between us. The liquid clung to the glass like oil.

"One dose breaks the curse," he said. "The seal. The spreading infection. All of it."

Aiden moved in front of me. "Our mother is dead."

Marcus finally glanced at him. "That's what they told you."

Aiden's hands curled into fists. "Don't play with me.