Chapter 22 · Untitled Chapter

"Move!" Adrian yanked me off the roof ledge. My knees slammed into the alley pavement, and a bullet punched the brick where my head had been.

"They're coming down the fire escape." His hand locked around my wrist. Blood ran from his shoulder. "Lynn, get up."

I couldn't move. My mother's voice still rang in my skull. Don't let him complete the second exchange. He'll see what you really are.

"Lynn. Now."

I ripped my arm free. "Don't touch me."

Adrian stared at me. His shirt was soaked red where Marcus had shot him, but he didn't even look at the wound.

"What did your mother say?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Lynn—"

"I said nothing." I backed away, my hands shaking. "You were there. You helped her fake the scene. You knew what she did, and you never told me."

"I told you why."

"Because Victor would've killed me. I know." A laugh scraped out of me. "So what now? You keep me alive until we finish the bond, then hand me over to the Council?"

Adrian's jaw tightened. "That's not what I'm doing."

Boots clanged above us.

Marcus appeared on the fire escape with two men behind him.