Chapter 19 · They Put Me Up for Bid

"You knew." I didn't ask. I shoved the file into Kael's chest hard enough that he had to catch it or let it hit the floor. "You knew they were selling my blood tonight, and you brought me here anyway."

He didn't flinch. Didn't look down at the paper. His eyes stayed on mine, and I hated how steady they were.

"I didn't bring you here to sell you," he said.

"Then what? A field trip? A lesson?" My voice cracked. I didn't care. "You saw that file. You saw the vial count. They've been bleeding me since I got here, and you—"

"I needed proof."

I laughed. It hurt coming out. "Proof. Right. So you let them prep me like livestock while you collected evidence."

Kael's jaw tightened. The muscle jumped under his skin. "Lena—"

"Don't." I stepped back. The edge of the bed hit the back of my knees.