Chapter 23 · The Name on the Order

"Don't touch that seal, Helen."

Rafe's warning cut across the tribunal chamber as Marek reached for the black scroll.

I slapped Marek's hand away. "Then get the original order before it burns."

The seal split beneath my palm with a wet crack.

Black fire burst from the stone floor. It crawled around the archive chamber below us, heat punching through my boots. The tribunal benches shook as the floor tore open, revealing a narrow stairway wrapped in red light.

Everyone backed away.

Everyone except Rafe.

He caught my wrist and yanked me from the opening. His fingers locked around my skin, hot and hard. "You don't know what that seal will take from you."

"I know exactly what it takes. Your proof. My blood. One very bad afternoon."

"Your blood won't open a royal archive."

My pulse jumped beneath his thumb.

Marek noticed. Of course he did. His mouth curled as he lifted the forged order toward the tribunal judges.

"Hear that?" he called. "Even the exile knows she has no royal blood. Helen Vale forged the evidence because she's desperate. She wants to drag the Directorate down with her."

"You sold weapons to the ash rebels," I snapped.