Chapter 11 · Forbidden Resonance

"Get your hands off her!"

I didn't think. I just moved. I was out of the confessional box in a blur, my hand clamping onto Callum's wrist and yanking him back from Viviane.

Callum stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "You? You're supposed to be in chains."

"Yeah, well, I'm not," I snapped. "So let go."

Viviane didn't move. She was frozen against the altar, knuckles white around her sword hilt, breathing like she'd just run a mile. Between us, the dead assassin was still bleeding out on the stones, his finger smeared through that damn symbol.

Callum shoved me. Hard. "Step back, mage. This is Inquisition business. You don't give orders here."

"And you don't get to manhandle your High Inquisitor," I shot back. "Not while I'm still breathing."

"Silas, don't," Viviane whispered. Her voice cracked. "Please."

"No, let him talk," Callum said. His eyes never left her. Cold. Calculating. "Is it true? Did you go to Julian? Three years ago? Did you beg him for a forbidden pact?"

Viviane flinched like he'd slapped her. "It's not— it wasn't like that—"

"Was it?" I cut in, stepping closer. I looked her dead in the eye. "Viviane.