Chapter 31 · The Deal

"Don't touch her!"

Kane's roar shook the corridor.

He tried to step between Justin and me, but his knees buckled. One hand hit the wall. The other pressed against his side, already soaked dark with blood.

Justin didn't even glance at him.

His fingers closed around my wrist.

"Get off me!"

I twisted hard. Justin yanked me forward and locked me against his chest. His grip crushed my bones. Heat pressed against my back while his breath brushed my ear.

"Quiet, Sia," he murmured. "You're not in a position to give orders."

"I'm not yours."

"Not yet."

Kane lunged.

It wasn't graceful. It wasn't controlled. It was a dying wolf throwing itself at a blade.

His claws tore into Justin's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the stone wall.

Justin cursed and shoved me aside.

Three scouts crashed into Kane before he could strike again. They slammed him against the wall so hard the impact rattled my teeth.

"Kane!"

I reached for him.

A scout caught the back of my coat and dragged me away.

"Stay back!" Kane snarled.

One of the scouts drove a knee into him. Kane's head snapped against the stone.

"Stop!" I shouted. "Get your hands off him!"