Chapter 13 · The Name Beneath My Skin

"You signed for both of us."

Ronan's jaw locked. "I signed because the council had a blade against your throat."

The collapsing shaft screamed around us. Metal buckled. Water rushed over my boots and climbed toward my knees.

I stared at him. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me."

"No. I heard another excuse." I shoved wet hair out of my face. "Try again."

His hand slipped from the core.

The light inside it shrieked.

"Keep your hand there!" I snapped.

"Mara—"

"Keep it there, or I swear I'll let this whole damn shaft take us."

Ronan slammed his palm back onto the metal. Blue fire crawled over his fingers.

His mouth tightened, but he didn't pull away.

"The council wanted your name erased from the mate registry," he said. "They knew what your blood could do. They knew what would happen if the city saw you standing beside me."

My laugh came out sharp. "So you rejected me to protect your reputation?"

"I rejected you to keep them from using you."

"You could've told me."

"They were listening."

"You could've trusted me."

His eyes met mine. "I trusted you enough to make you hate me.