Chapter 34 · Cracks in the Shadow

"If you repeat one word of what he said, I'll kill you myself."

Sloane's forearm slammed into my chest, pinning me to the cold stone before the door even clicked shut.

"Wow. Hello to you too," I wheezed. My back scraped the wall. Her blade was already out—not pointed at me, but pressed flat against my throat. Cold. Lethal. "You know, most people just say 'good job not dying.'"

"Don't joke." Her eyes were locked on mine. Too close. I could feel her breath, sharp and erratic. Her hand was shaking. Sloane never shook.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?" she hissed. "What you let him say to you?"

"I didn't let him say anything," I snapped. "He just decided I'm his new favorite container. Not exactly a lot of input during a mid-villain monologue."

"You should've kept your mouth shut." She pushed harder. The edge bit. A thin line of heat blossomed on my skin. "You should've let him rot in his own head."

"And let him blow up half the capital? Again?" I grabbed her wrist. I didn't pull away—I just held it. Her pulse was hammering under my fingers. Way too fast. "Sloane.