Chapter 21 · You think I made this happen?

He stepped toward me.

I stepped back.

The wall caught my shoulders again.

Silas planted one hand beside my head. The other held my knife at his side. His body cut off the red emergency light, leaving his face close and shadowed.

"You think I made this happen?" he asked.

"I think you make everything happen."

"Not this."

"Then prove it."

"How?"

"Open the collar."

His gaze dropped to my throat.

The metal band was warm now. Almost hot. A tiny seam glowed beneath my jaw.

"If I open it," he said, "the failsafe fires."

"If you don't, I keep guessing."

"The failsafe could stop your heart."

"Then you're out of time."

He leaned closer. His knuckles grazed the side of my neck as he reached for the collar controls.

I caught his hand.

His skin was warm. Mine wasn't. The difference made my fingers hesitate.

His eyes dropped to where I held him.

"Let go," he said.

"Make me."

"Hera."

"There it is. The name. The thing I shouldn't trust."

His grip closed around my hand. He didn't pull it away.