Chapter 27 · Don't Let Him Smell Blood

The knife's edge sits cold against Ivy's throat. She can feel Mara's breath on her neck, steady and professional. Rex is bleeding from his shoulder, half-shifted, claws scraping the stone floor as he tries to decide if he wants to kill Mara or run from whatever's inside that door.

Cain's on his knees ten feet away. The blood pact's still burning through him. She can see it in the way his hands shake, the way his chest heaves like he's drowning. His eyes are locked on her throat. On the blade.

"Don't move," Mara says. Not to Ivy. To Cain.

He doesn't. But his lips pull back from his teeth.

"Rex paid half up front," Mara continues, voice flat. "The contract says alive. So that's what you get. Alive."

Rex spits blood onto the ground. His shoulder's already knitting back together, fur receding into skin. "You shot me."

"You were about to open a door that should stay shut." Mara's grip tightens on Ivy's arm. "I've seen what comes out of old doors. I'm not letting it happen again."

Ivy tries to swallow. The blade moves with her throat. "What did you see?"

"Shut up.