Chapter 23 · The Price of Knowing

"Put the knife down, Lia." Calian's hand closed over my wrist before the blade could slip from my fingers. "Now."

"Take your hand off me."

His grip tightened. Not enough to hurt. Enough to remind me that the command still owned his muscles.

The broken oathstone pulsed between us. Each pulse sent a black line crawling across Calian's wrist, straight toward the scar wrapped around his arm. The same scar burned under my skin.

Behind the stone, Sevryn's voice cracked through the chamber speakers.

"Step away from him, Lia Vale. You have already cost him enough."

I looked at Calian's face. His jaw was locked so hard I could see the muscle jump.

"You hear that?" I asked. "He thinks you're a bill he can send me."

"He's not wrong." Calian's fingers slid lower, trapping my hand against his chest. His heart slammed under my knuckles. "The next command will be worse."

"You don't know that."

"I know the oath."

"You know how to obey it. That's not the same thing."

His eyes cut to mine.