Chapter 7 · Blood Bargain

"Don't touch it!"

Viviane’s palm slammed over my hand before I could even reach for the killer's blade. Her fingers were ice. Shaking so hard I could feel the tremor through my own skin.

"It's evidence," I snapped. "Your precious Cardinal's seal is right there. You gonna pretend you didn't see it?"

"I said don't!" She shoved me. Hard.

I hit the doorframe; she hit the wall. We both gasped, chests heaving, but neither of us looked away from the red light crawling up our wrists. A damn leash, tying us together in the dark.

"My dear Inquisitor," a voice purred. "What a scene to walk in on."

Julian. He was leaning in the doorway, smiling. He didn't need to shout. He didn't even need to move. Two white-cloaked guards flanked him, hands resting on their sword hilts.

Viviane went rigid. "Your Eminence. This man was attacked. The assassin—"

"The assassin is dead," Julian interrupted. He stepped over the corpse without a glance. His eyes were locked on the glow between our wrists. "And you're on the floor. With a convicted heretic. Glowing."

"It's not what it looks like," she whispered.

"It's exactly what it looks like," I cut in.