Chapter 26 · You started it by being impossible

"You started it by being impossible."

Kane's fingers tightened around his. "Cillian."

The way he said the name cut through the noise. Not an order. Not a threat. A warning he was too proud to beg.

Cillian leaned closer, letting his shoulder press against Kane's. "Tell me where the curse is anchored."

Kane swallowed. "I don't know."

"Lie again and I walk away."

"You won't."

"Test me."

The black blades shuddered. One angled toward Kane's throat.

Lilith moved fast. She grabbed a silver injector from the tray and aimed it at Kane's neck.

Cillian caught her elbow and twisted her arm behind her back.

"You said you wanted to stop him," he growled. "What is in that injector?"

"A sedative."

"No."

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

"I know your sedatives don't have black residue in the glass."

Lilith went quiet.

Kane's gaze hardened. "She brought a severance compound."

Cillian shoved Lilith away from the table. "You were going to break the pact."

"I was going to separate you before the curse consumed both of you."

"And Kane?"

"If his heart stops during the separation, that's unfortunate."

Kane tried to sit up. "I'll kill you.