Chapter 20 · The second seal is already active

He caught the paper before it hit the floor. "The second seal is already active."

"Then we move before it closes."

"Nora, the lower prison has curse guards."

"I've killed curse guards before."

"You were unconscious when you said that."

"I was still right."

Lucan stepped in front of the archive door. His body blocked the exit, broad shoulders filling the narrow space. "You're not going down there alone."

"I wasn't planning to."

"And you're not tearing up your death order and pretending that cancels the council's authority."

"It doesn't cancel anything. It proves the order was written in my blood."

His gaze dropped to her palm. The crown had cut her. A thin red line ran across her hand.

"You're bleeding."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that when you're about to do something reckless."

"You always say my name when you're about to stop me."

"Maybe I should stop you."

"Try."

For one hard second, neither of them moved.

His eyes fell to her mouth.

Nora felt the change in his breathing. The room was full of alarms and flying papers, yet his attention had narrowed to the inches between them.