Chapter 39 · His Veins Sing Back

"Cut the line, Mira." Silas caught her wrist before the silver blade touched his skin. "Now."

"Let go of me."

His fingers tightened. His palm was hot against her pulse, too hot for a man who had been shaking on the operating table for the last ten minutes. Black threads crawled beneath the skin of his hand, gathering around his knuckles like spilled ink under glass.

"You heard me," he said. "Cut it."

"And watch you drop dead? No."

"That was the deal."

"Deals don't matter when your blood is trying to climb into mine."

Silas looked down at their joined hands. His jaw locked.

The thin red cord between them pulsed once.

Mira felt it in her teeth.

She shoved her shoulder into him. "Silas. Release me."

He didn't move. His other hand stayed pressed against his ribs, where the binding needle had gone in. The metal tube connecting them trembled with every rough breath he took.

Behind him, the ward door slammed open.

Nora stood there with a crossbow raised. "Mira, step away from him."

"I can't."

"You can if you want to keep your hand attached."

Silas turned his head. "Nora, lower that thing."

"You first.