Chapter 15 · Bride on the List

“Turn it off.”

Dorian’s voice came out rough enough to scrape paint off the walls.

Sable didn’t look away from the floating auction screen. “That’s not how a website works, Prince Charming.”

“I said turn it off.”

His hand closed around the silver chain still wrapped over his wrist. Smoke curled up from his skin. Real smoke. The kind that smelled like burned pennies and meat.

I grabbed his forearm before he could yank harder.

“Don’t.”

His eyes hit mine.

Not fully human anymore.

The pupils had gone too wide. Gold crowded out the gray. His jaw was locked so tight I could see the muscle jumping by his ear.

“Mara,” he said.

“Yeah, I know. You’re fine. You’re always fine.” I tightened my grip. “Stop trying to rip your own hand off.”

Behind us, the sixth sublevel looked like a slaughterhouse somebody had tried to turn into a server room. Broken light panels flashed overhead. Silver casings glittered in black puddles on the floor. One hunter lay facedown beside the moonlight rig, breathing but not moving much.