Chapter 27 · The Weight of Lies

"Don't touch that door."

Cain's hand slammed against the stone beside my head. Dust dropped across my lashes. His body blocked the only exit, his shoulder brushing mine as the altar behind us groaned.

"Move," I said.

"You heard me."

"I heard you threaten me for the tenth time today. Get in line."

His eyes dropped to the blood running from my palm. The cut was small. The red line wasn't. It crawled across the carved floor and vanished beneath the altar.

The stone drank it.

Cain's jaw locked.

"Ivy. Step away."

"Why? Afraid it might tell me another story?"

His gaze snapped back to mine. We were too close. His heat pressed through my torn coat. I could feel each breath he took against my cheek, slow and controlled, like he was holding a beast behind his teeth.

"You don't know what you're looking at."

"Then explain it."

"Not here."

"Convenient."

I shoved his chest.

He didn't move. Of course he didn't. Cain could stand in the path of a charging beast and make the beast apologize. His hand closed around my wrist before I could hit him again.

His palm was hot.