Chapter 12 · The Man Who Built It

"Tell me why my brother is in that convoy, or I swear I'll tear your core out with my bare hands." Evelyn slammed Kade against the market's steel support beam before Mira could finish locking the hidden door.

Kade's injured shoulder hit first. His jaw tightened, but he didn't make a sound. The blue light under his skin pulsed hard enough to show through his torn shirt.

Mira raised both hands. "Evelyn, maybe don't threaten the Crown's most dangerous enforcer while he's leaking energy all over my floor."

"He knows something." Evelyn kept one fist twisted in Kade's collar. "That projection came from him. The prison convoy came from him. My brother was in the third vehicle."

Kade looked down at her hand, then back at her face. His breathing was rough. Too rough. Every ragged pull scraped across her own ribs through the illegal bond.

"Let go," he said.

"Give me a reason."

"Because your pulse is matching mine, and you're about to pass out."

"Cute. Try again."

His eyes narrowed. Even injured, even shaking, he still looked like a man used to people obeying before he finished speaking.