Chapter 9 · The Price of Blood

"Get your hands off her, you ancient relic!" the assassin shouted.

The silver-etched blade flashed toward my throat.

Kane moved first.

He stepped between us, caught the assassin's wrist, and twisted. Bone cracked. The blade clattered across the stone floor.

The assassin dropped to one knee with a strangled cry.

"Relic?" Kane asked.

His voice was quiet. That made it worse.

He twisted the man's arm another inch.

"I've forgotten more about killing than you'll ever learn in your miserable lifetime."

"Let go!" I shoved against Kane's shoulder. "I can handle him."

Kane didn't budge. Heat rolled off him through his coat, trapping me behind him and the altar.

"Stay back, Sia."

"Stop ordering me around."

"Then stop trying to get yourself killed."

The power I'd pulled from the throne still burned under my skin. Gold light crawled across my fingers, hungry and wild.

I shoved harder.

Kane glanced over his shoulder. His eyes caught the throne's glow.

"You can't even stand straight without shaking."

"I'm standing."

"Barely."

The assassin took advantage of the argument.