Chapter 32 · The Door Behind the Code

"Put the key down, Hera."

Silas had one hand around my wrist and the other aimed a black pulse pistol at my chest. The metal key hovered between us, bright enough to hurt my eyes.

I tightened my grip.

"You first."

His fingers closed harder. Pain shot up my arm, but I kept my face still. The key had been cold a second ago. Now it was hot against my palm, beating in time with the collar locked around my throat.

Silas noticed.

Of course he noticed.

His gray eyes dropped to my hand, then lifted back to mine. He stood close enough that the heat from his body pressed through my jacket. His coat brushed my knees. His breath touched the side of my face every time he spoke.

"You stole that from a sealed Ghost nest," he said. "You don't know what it does."

"You keep saying that like it's supposed to scare me."

"It should."

"Try harder."

The pulse pistol clicked. Blue light crawled along its barrel.

The key jerked in my hand.

Not physically. Not exactly.