Chapter 25 · The Hunters Aim

“Don’t move, little rabbit. One twitch and your throat opens.”

Cold silver touched my neck.

I froze with one boot half-lifted, my breath caught between my teeth. The assassin’s arm locked across my chest. His body pressed close behind me, hard and steady, while the blade kissed my skin.

“Kane!” I shouted. “Don’t—”

“Get your hands off her!”

Kane’s roar slammed through the ruins.

Six wolves moved at once, cutting him off. Their claws scraped over the burned stone. Their yellow eyes stayed fixed on him, hungry and bright.

Kane took one step forward.

The silver blade dug deeper.

A hot line opened across my neck.

“Kane,” I said quickly. “Don’t move.”

His eyes flashed molten gold. “Sia, I swear to every god left breathing—”

“Careful,” Justin called.

He stepped out from behind a broken pillar, turning a thick silver chain around one hand. Ash clung to his boots. He looked almost bored.

Almost.

“One wrong move,” Justin said, “and she becomes a memory.”

“Go to hell,” I snapped.

Justin’s mouth curved. “Still fighting. I almost missed that.”

“You never missed anything. You just hated that I didn’t kneel.”

His smile thinned.

Behind me, the assassin shifted.