Chapter 60 · You were my best student

She moved.

The scalpel went in and out with one fast, controlled motion beneath his ribs. No blood sprayed. No ugly sound followed. Veyr simply stopped.

His fingers loosened around the chain.

Sylvia caught him before he hit the floor.

For one second, his weight leaned against her like it had when she was young and still trusted him. His breath shook near her ear.

"You were my best student," he whispered.

"I know."

"You could have ruled the surgical guild."

"You stole my name."

"I protected the work."

"You buried me alive."

"I gave you a chance to become more than a butcher."

"You made me one."

Veyr's eyes found hers.

"The king will destroy you."

Sylvia lowered him to the floor. "Then he can wait his turn."

Veyr's hand twitched toward the vial.

She pinned it beneath her boot.

"Don't," she said.

"You need it."

"You said that before."

"Without it, your heart—"

He stopped.

Sylvia stared down at him. "My heart what?"

Veyr's lips parted, but no answer came.

The door gave way.

A black claw punched through the metal. The nearest hunter screamed and fired at it. The shot vanished into the breach.