Chapter 16 · Then stop digging through my records

Julian's gaze sharpened. "Then stop digging through my records."

"Stop hiding the truth."

"Truth gets people killed."

"So does your treatment plan."

Julian's hand closed around the back of Kael's neck. Not rough. Not gentle either. His thumb rested just below Kael's hairline, warm enough to make Kael notice the difference between Julian's hand and the rest of him.

"You think I'm the one killing them," Julian said.

"Aren't you?"

"I'm the one trying to stop it."

"By locking me up?"

"By keeping Silas from opening your throat."

Kael went still.

Julian lowered his voice. "He sent the summons twenty minutes ago."

"The summons for what?"

"For you."

"He wants me in the chapel."

"He wants you on a table."

Kael's hand slid toward the knife at his ribs. Julian caught his wrist before he touched it.

"Don't," Julian said.

"You keep saying that."

"Because you keep making stupid moves."

"And you keep grabbing me. Starting to look personal."

Julian's thumb pressed once against Kael's pulse.

His eyes narrowed. "You want to joke while Silas prepares an execution?"

"I want to know why you look more afraid of that summons than I do.