Chapter 22 · Why not? You tell it differently?

"Why not? You tell it differently?"

"I saved that patient."

"You stole him."

"He was dying."

"He was useful."

Kane's voice dropped. "What did you do to him?"

Cillian said nothing.

Kane looked at him. "What did they do?"

"Not now."

"You don't get to decide that."

"Actually, I do. I'm the one keeping you alive."

"Then keep me alive and answer me."

The elder leaned toward Kane. "He cut away the family's curse and put it in himself. That is why he can touch yours. That is why your pain answers him."

Kane's eyes moved to Cillian's mark.

Cillian hated that look. Not disgust. Not quite anger.

Calculation.

Like Kane was deciding whether Cillian had saved him or simply chosen a slower way to kill him.

"You used me," Kane said.

"I used your curse."

"Same thing."

"No. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have spent three nights digging poison out of your bones."

"You enjoyed having control."

Cillian went still.

Kane's throat moved beneath the elder's knife. "Don't look so offended. You like being the only person who can fix me."

"You want to have this conversation while your blood is on the floor?"

"You started it."