Chapter 27 · The Devil's Deal

"Drop the crystal, Princess. Maybe I let you walk outta this tunnel without a hole in your neck."

Thorne's voice hit like ice on stone. Ten feet away. Blade half-raised. That scar splitting his eyebrow made his stare worse.

Kael slammed in front of me before I could breathe.

Hand on his hilt. Shoulders locked. Heat rolling off him so hard I felt it through my jacket.

"Move, Kael," Thorne said. "You're guarding a liability. A broken doll who can't even hold her frequency without shaking."

"I'm not shaking," I snapped, leaning around Kael's arm. "And I'm not dropping shit till you tell me who the hell you are."

My head still throbbed from the sync. Ears ringing. But the list tucked against my ribs kept me upright. That damn blackmail list. My only leverage.

Thorne didn't blink. "Someone who knows exactly what you stole."

Then the air changed.

It dropped. Heavy. Like the tunnel just turned to lead and pressed on my chest. My teeth ached from it.

Dominance play. Pure pressure.

Kael didn't flinch. "You're out of your sector, Thorne."

"Sector?" Thorne gave a dry, ugly laugh.