Chapter 29 · You lied

The admission landed between them.

Kael searched her face. Her pupils were wide. A thin line of blood ran from her temple, disappearing beneath her hair.

"You lied," he said.

"Yes."

"That is all you have?"

"Do you want an apology or an instruction?"

"I want the truth."

"You cannot afford it."

The rifle jerked in his hands. A small panel opened near the trigger. Inside sat a ring of black glass, cracked straight through the center.

Kael's breath caught.

He knew that design.

"My father built this," he said.

Sloane's hand tightened on his coat. "Do not touch the ring."

"You knew."

"Kael."

"You knew my father built the weapon."

"I knew he worked on it. That is not the same thing."

"You keep making that distinction whenever the truth gets close."

"Because the truth gets people killed."

"People are already trying to kill us."

"Then stop helping them."

The red symbols reached the cracked ring.

A narrow beam shot from the rifle and struck the wall. Lines spread across the stone, forming a map of the lower city. Streets flashed one after another. Then a black mark appeared beneath the archive.

Kael leaned closer.