Chapter 18 · The Tenth Lock

"Let go of me, Lena."

Cade's fingers clamped around her wrist before the black pull could drag him through the broken spirit lock.

His other hand pressed an execution blade to her throat.

The edge kissed her skin.

Lena didn't look at the knife. She looked straight at him. "You first."

"I'm not the one being pulled in."

"You're the one trying to take me with you."

Behind him, the thing inside the tenth lock wore Cade's face.

It smiled without any of his restraint.

"Kill her, Cade," it said through the glassy surface. "The pact is compromised."

Cade's jaw tightened.

The blood mark on his palm flashed red. Heat tore across Lena's hand at the same time. Their marks answered each other, dragging their wrists together even as Cade tried to wrench away.

"You heard that?" he asked.

"Hard to miss. Your creepy twin has volume issues."

"I wasn't talking about him."

The blade pressed closer.

"The command in my mark," Cade said. "It says kill you."

"And the blood pact?"

"It says protect you."

"Then your magic has better judgment than your boss."

Silver flashed through Cade's eyes.