Chapter 27 · Dead Men Leave Teeth

The blood on Lucan's collar was still wet when Cassian kicked the door open.

Mira had him against the wall, one hand fisted in his shirt, the other holding the folded proof he'd just given her. Her knuckles were white. Her breath came fast and shallow, close enough that he could feel the heat of it against his jaw.

"You don't get to do that," she said. Her voice shook. "You don't get to hand me what I need and then—"

Cassian didn't knock. He never did. The door hit the inner wall hard enough to crack plaster, and he was already talking.

"We're out of time."

Mira didn't let go. Didn't step back. Her eyes stayed locked on Lucan's face, searching for something. A lie, maybe. Or permission to believe him.

Lucan kept his hands where she could see them. Palms open against the wall. His ribs ached where she'd shoved him, and the cut on his throat from her blade earlier was still leaking down into his collar. Warm. Sticky. He could feel his pulse pushing against the wound with every beat.

"Mira," Cassian said. Sharper now.

She let go. Stepped back. But she didn't look at Cassian.