Chapter 12 · You think I asked for this?

His expression changed so fast I almost missed it. A flinch. A flash of anger. Then the blank mask came back down.

"You think I asked for this?"

"I think you keep standing between me and every answer I need."

"Because every answer puts a blade at your throat."

"Maybe stop holding the blade for them."

Calian went silent.

Noah looked between us. "I hate to interrupt whatever this is, but the sweep team just crossed the lower bridge."

The tablet chimed.

A map marker turned from yellow to red.

I snatched the house stone off the table.

Calian caught my wrist again, but I twisted under his arm and slapped the stone against the upload plate built into the wall.

The whole room jolted.

A thin line of blue light ran up the stone, across the wall, and into the old city relay buried behind the plaster.

"Lia, stop."

"No."

"Take your hand off it."

"Make me.