Chapter 16 · The Forbidden Wake

“Don’t touch me.”

My power slammed into the stone floor before Silas could reach me.

The chamber shook. A crack split the tiles beneath my boots, and black-red light flashed up my arms. The nearest table jumped hard enough to throw its candles against the wall.

Silas caught my wrist anyway.

Heat crushed around my bones. His grip locked me in place, but he didn’t yank. He held me like he was stopping a blade from cutting through both of us.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

“Get your hand off me!”

“Ivy.”

The light under my skin flared brighter. Pain stabbed from my palm to my shoulder. I shoved at his chest with my free hand, but he barely moved. His coat scraped beneath my fingers. His body was solid, warm, and far too close.

“Let go!” I snapped.

“Not while you’re tearing the room apart.”

“Maybe the room deserves it.”

A second wave burst from me.

Silas turned, dragged me with him, and slammed my back against the wall. Stone struck between my shoulders. His forearm went across my collarbone, trapping me without crushing my throat.

His face hovered inches from mine.

“Stop fighting me.