Chapter 13 · Moonclaim - Chapter 13: Dead Man's Accusation

The screens went dark.

Ivy's hand was still on the gun. Her father's face—ten years dead, mouth moving, eyes locked on the camera—was gone. Just black glass and the hum of the server racks and Leon standing three feet away like he'd been hit by a truck.

She couldn't breathe right. The bond was a live wire in her chest, humming, pulling, and she wanted to shoot him or kiss him or run and she couldn't do any of it because her legs wouldn't move.

"Ivy." His voice cracked. He took half a step forward and stopped when she jerked the barrel up.

"Don't."

"That wasn't—" He dragged a hand through his hair. His eyes were still gold, still wrong, and she could feel the wolf under his skin like it was under hers. "I don't know what that was."

"My father." Her voice came out flat. "That was my father."

"I know."

"He said you killed them."

Leon flinched. Actually flinched, and the bond twisted so hard she tasted copper. "I was there."

The room tilted. She locked her knees. "What?"

"I was there." He wasn't looking at her anymore.