Chapter 21 · The Choice That Breaks the Oath

"Don't touch the stone."

Calian's hand was already on it.

The black surface flashed under his palm. A thin red line raced up his wrist, following the old oath mark like a fuse. His jaw locked. His shoulders went stiff.

I grabbed his arm. "Calian. Move. Now."

"I can't."

The blade in his other hand lifted.

Not by his choice. Not this time.

The oathbreaker blade shook between us, its edge catching the pale light from the stone. Calian fought it so hard the tendons stood out in his neck. His boots scraped across the floor, but his body kept dragging him toward me.

Toward my chest.

"Look at me," I said.

His eyes snapped to mine. Gray. Sharp. Furious.

And scared.

That scared me worse than the blade.

"Lia, get back."

"You just said you can't move."

"Then make me."

The command pulsed through the room. The stone gave a low, grinding hum. Dust shook loose from the ceiling and ticked against the metal table behind me.

I didn't move.

Calian's hand jerked. The blade came up another inch.