Chapter 13 · You don't get to use me like a sedative

The answer came out too fast.

Julian heard it. Of course he did.

His gaze moved over Kael's face, stopping at his mouth for half a second before returning to his eyes.

Kael pulled his hand free.

"You don't get to use me like a sedative."

Julian caught his sleeve instead. "I don't know what you're doing."

"Treating you."

"No. You touch me, and the plague goes quiet. Why?"

"I don't know."

"Find out."

"I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker."

"You brought a dead man back from the river last winter."

Kael stared at him. "Who told you that?"

"You talk in your sleep."

"I don't talk in my sleep."

"You said her name."

Kael went still.

Julian's grip tightened on his sleeve. "Mira."

Kael's hand snapped toward Julian's throat. Julian caught it before it landed and twisted, forcing Kael's arm against the floor.

"Don't," Julian warned.

"You don't get to say her name."

"I just did."

"Say it again and I'll make you swallow that hand."

Julian leaned over him. His knee pressed against Kael's thigh, holding him down without crushing him. That careful control made the threat worse.

"You keep forgetting who owns your contract," Julian said.