Chapter 21 · Untitled Chapter

"Take your hand off the archive, Mara."

Adrian caught my wrist before I could tear through the final seal.

His grip was warm. Hard. Shaking.

I looked at his hand, then at his face. "You locked this room with my mother's access code."

"Because it isn't safe."

"For me?"

"For you most of all."

I twisted against him. "Move."

"No."

"That's cute. You still think you're in charge."

His jaw tightened. "You have three minutes before the stabilizer wears off."

"Then stop wasting them."

I shoved him.

The old bed caught the backs of my knees. I hit the mattress hard, and Adrian stepped between me and the archive door, blocking it with his whole body.

The silver marriage mark under my collarbone flared.

His answered.

The contract hated distance. It hated lies even more.

"You stole the case," I said. "You took my license, my name, and every clean copy of the evidence. Don't stand there and tell me you're protecting me."

"I am protecting you."

"From what? The truth?"

He looked away.

Half a second. That was all I needed.

I lunged for the archive.

Adrian caught both my shoulders.