Chapter 30 · Your Father's Knife

Mira's hand was already on her blade when Noah stepped in front of her.

The Valehart enforcer came fast, silver edge cutting air, and Noah didn't have time to think. He twisted sideways, felt the burn slice across his ribs instead of her throat, and then his palm cracked into the man's wrist hard enough to send the weapon skittering across stone.

Mira caught his shoulder before he hit the ground.

"What the hell are you doing?" Her voice was low, tight, like she was holding something back with her teeth.

Noah straightened, one hand pressed to the wet heat spreading under his shirt. The cut wasn't deep. Hurt like a son of a bitch, but he'd had worse. "Keeping you alive."

"I didn't ask you to."

"Yeah, well." He looked at her. Really looked. Her jaw was set, eyes dark and too bright, and her fingers were still digging into his shoulder like she couldn't decide whether to shove him away or pull him closer. "You looked like you were about two seconds from doing something stupid."

Her grip tightened.