Chapter 18 · Breath of a Killer

"Don't move."

The blade was already biting into Silas's throat before I could even get his eyes to focus.

Cold steel. Right on the pulse. One twitch and he bleeds out and I go with him.

"Vivian," I tried to make his mouth say. His voice came out rough, half-asleep. "Hey. We can talk about this."

"We talked," she said. "You lied."

She was straddling him. Or straddling us. Knees pinning Silas's chest to the mattress, one hand fisted in his shirt, the other holding that knife dead steady. Her hair was damp. Her breath was coming fast. Like she'd run here.

"I didn't lie," I said through him. "I just didn't get a chance to explain."

"Explain what? How you butchered my sister? How you burned Brennor to the ground?" The knife pressed harder. A thin sting. Warm trickle. "Give me one reason I shouldn't open your throat right now."

Okay. So she wants a head. I want to talk. Classic.

And Silas? Silas was just... watching. Inside. I could feel him lounging back somewhere behind my consciousness like this was a show.

"Because you're smart," I said. I made Silas keep his hands flat on the bed.