Chapter 29 · You want to bite me, threaten me, or tell me the truth? Pick one

She pressed harder against his jaw.

"You want to bite me, threaten me, or tell me the truth? Pick one."

"You think those are my only choices?"

"With you? Usually."

His hand came up and closed around the back of her neck.

Not hard enough to hurt. Hard enough to stop her from stepping away.

"The gate is pulling on the order in my blood," he said. "The old order. The one written before the council erased my family."

"What does that have to do with Bram?"

"He stole the order."

"And kept it in his case?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Lucan's thumb moved once against her neck.

"Because it names the person who gave him permission to use my seal."

"Who?"

The gate screamed.

Lucan flinched. His grip tightened. A black mark appeared beneath his skin, curling up his throat.

"Say it," Nora demanded.

"I can't."

"You can. You just don't want to."

"The order won't let me speak it."

"Then let me read it."

She reached for the gate.

Lucan caught her hand.

"No."

"You said the gate wants you. Fine. I'll give it what it wants long enough to see why."

"It will show you what it showed me."