Chapter 26 · she said

She shoved at his chest. He caught her wrist and pinned it to the stone beside her head.

His grip was firm, not cruel. That somehow made it worse.

"Let go," she said.

"When the next bolt misses."

"You mean when you decide it has."

"You keep testing me."

"You keep giving me reasons."

His gaze dropped to her mouth for half a second.

Mira stopped breathing.

So did he.

The crossbow creaked above them.

Silas released her wrist and pulled her behind the gate pillar just as a third bolt cut through the space where her face had been.

"Stay here," he ordered.

"Absolutely not."

"Mira."

"If you leave me here, I will follow you. If you lock me in, I will pick the lock. If you tie me up, I will bite you. Choose the version that wastes the least time."

He studied her for one sharp second.

"You are impossible."

"You noticed."

Silas tore a strip from the bottom of his shirt and pressed it against the wound around the bolt. His fingers shook once. Only once.

Mira saw it.

"The bolt is poisoned."

"No."

"Your hand just trembled.