Chapter 9 · The Anchor's Price

"Get away from her!"

Cade hit Lorne like a freight train. Shoulder to ribs. Arm around her waist. Dragging her five feet across the stone before she could even breathe.

"Don't touch her," he snarled. He didn't let go. His hand locked on her arm, hot, shaking.

The man didn't even flinch. He just stood there holding that black iron key. The one that matched the hollow ache in Lorne's chest.

"You're out of your league, Rook," he said. Gravel voice. Casual. Like he owned the tower. "She's not a person. She's a mechanism. Time to turn the lock."

Lorne's chest throbbed. Not pain. Pull. Hunger. Every time that key caught the light, the thing under her skin twisted hard.

"He's lying!" She shoved at Cade's arm, tried to get around him. "He's not real! He's a trick!"

"I'm as real as the debt you still owe me, Lorne." The man took a step forward. "Did Cade tell you why he was so eager to save you? Huh? You think it's hero shit?"

Cade's fingers dug deeper into her skin. "Shut up."

"He's not protecting you," the man kept going. Eyes locked on Lorne. "He's protecting his name.