Chapter 12 · The Witch-Silver Test

"Hands off her." Cain's snarl shook the church doors as Rex dragged me inside.

Rex slammed the door behind us. His fingers stayed locked around my arm, burning cold through my sleeve.

"Your boy's not coming in here," he said. "Consecrated ground makes his beast sick. He won't risk crossing the threshold."

"Then you should've left me with him."

Rex laughed and shoved me toward a broken pew. I caught myself on the splintered wood, then turned with my fists raised.

He was bigger than Cain. Taller, broader, with yellow eyes that didn't belong in a human face.

"What do you want?"

"What's mine." He rolled his shoulders. "Cain took my pack. My territory. My future. Then he ran into the mines like a coward."

"He didn't take anything. You tried to kill him."

Rex crossed the room before I could blink. His hand closed around my throat and drove me into the wall.

My skull struck stone. White light burst across my vision.

"You don't know what you're talking about, little girl."

I clawed at his wrist. It didn't move.

"Cain challenged me," Rex said. "He lost. He should've died with honor. Instead, he hid.