Chapter 19 · The Price of Trust

"Step away from her. Now."

Kael's blade hummed against my throat. Low. Lethal. The air shivered around it.

"Wrong girl," I choked out. My back hit cold stone. "Wrong vessel, wrong—"

"Don't move." He didn't look at the masked man bleeding out on the floor. He looked at me. Tip of that sword an inch from the guy's neck, eyes locked on mine. "You wanna explain why your frequency doesn't match a single royal record in this city?"

The guy on the floor laughed. Wet. Hacking.

"She's a ghost, Guard," he spat. Blood on his teeth. "A hollow shell. Ask her why she can mimic a dead queen. Ask her what she's really carrying."

"He's lying," I snapped. My voice shook. Good. Let it shake. "He's losing, so he's trying to turn us on each other. That's all this is."

"Lying?" Kael's voice dropped. Dangerous quiet. "He just gave me a reason why Augustus wants you dead and alive at the same time. That's more than you've given me in three weeks."

"Records can be forged," I said. "You know Augustus. He rewrites history before the ink dries."

"And you?" He stepped in.