Chapter 21 · Tell me what?

Nora looked between them. "Tell me what?"

Lucan's hand stopped.

Evelyn laughed once, bitter and breathless. "He didn't tell you the crown doesn't just name a ruler. It names every accomplice standing close enough to share the claim."

Nora turned to Lucan. "How close is close enough?"

"Evelyn—"

"Ask him."

Nora stepped toward him. "How close?"

His silence answered first.

"Lucan."

"The crown marked you when you touched it."

Nora looked down at her hand. The cut across her palm had turned black around the edges.

"You knew this would happen."

"I knew it might."

"You knew."

"I didn't know the crown would accept you as part of the claim."

"And you still put it on."

"Because if I didn't, Evelyn would die."

"No. You put it on because you wanted the power."

His face hardened. "I want the truth. Power is the only thing Bram understands."

"And what do I understand?"

"You understand revenge."

The words hit harder than they should have.

Nora stepped inside his space. "Then say it clearly. You need my revenge to make your crown legitimate."

"I need your evidence."

"That's not what I asked."

Lucan's eyes held hers. "Yes.