Chapter 28 · The Taboo Deal

"Sit. Still."

Sela’s voice wasn't a request. It was a command, sharp enough to cut. She didn't look at me as she stepped closer, her boots clicking against the cold floor. I was slumped against the wall, chest heaving, the metallic taste of blood still coating my tongue. The four hounds Victor had tossed at me were now nothing more than heaps of steaming meat and shattered bone on the floor.

"You look like hell," she said, finally meeting my eyes. She didn't sound concerned. She sounded fascinated, like she was looking at a car crash she couldn't turn away from.

I tried to laugh, but it came out as a wet wheeze. "Glad... you enjoyed the show."

Sela didn't smile. She reached out, her gloved hand gripping my chin and forcing my head back against the stone. The pressure was firm, a reminder that even though I’d just killed four monsters, she was still the one holding the leash. Her eyes searched mine, scanning for something—fear, maybe, or the remnants of whatever Victor had tried to break.

"How are you still breathing?" she whispered. "Those hounds don't just bite. They strip marrow.