Chapter 22 · You think exposure saves me?

He stared at the screen, then at me. "You think exposure saves me?"

"I think silence definitely won't."

"You don't understand what the council can do."

"And you keep refusing to tell me."

"Because if you know everything, they can use you against me."

"They've been using me against you since the second you dragged me into your house."

His expression tightened at that. The blade dropped a fraction, but his arm still shook.

The stone pulsed again.

A voice crawled out of it.

Not a recording. Not a memory.

Sevryn.

"Calian Vey. Complete the order."

Calian's whole body jerked.

His forehead hit mine.

The contact was hard enough to hurt. His breath came hot against my lips. His nose brushed mine, and for one wild second the room narrowed to the heat of him, the steel between us, and the frantic beat under my fingers.

"Don't listen," I whispered.

"I can't shut it out."

"Then listen to me."

"Lia—"

"You said the bond needs a choice. A real one. So choose."

His eyes searched mine. "Choose what?"

"Me.