Chapter 19 · Truce in the Dark

"Don't move. Just... don't fucking move," Silas hissed.

His voice vibrated against the shell of Viviane's ear. They were wedged in a space no wider than a coffin, pinned between a collapsed marble pillar and the jagged remains of the vault wall. Dust filled the air, tasting of copper and ancient lime.

Viviane could feel every muscle in Silas's chest heaving against her back. His heat seared through her thin tunic.

"Get off me," she whispered.

She didn't push. She couldn't. Her right arm was pinned, and her heart was hammering a rhythm so violent she was sure he could feel it through his ribs.

"And let the next wave of those things find us? No thanks," Silas muttered. He shifted, his thigh pressing firmly against hers. "We're stuck, Viv. Unless you've got a prayer that can move ten tons of rock, you're stuck with me."

Viviane closed her eyes. *One of you must vanish.*

The words were poison. She felt the cold metal of her sword hilt just inches from her hand, but the distance felt like a canyon.

"Why aren't you laughing?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You've wanted to kill me since the first loop.