Chapter 5 · The First Command

"Don't touch that stone." Calian caught my wrist before my palm reached the glowing name.

His fingers closed around the burn on my skin. Heat shot up my arm and punched straight into my chest.

I shoved him hard. "Take your hand off me."

He let go, but not fast enough to hide the pain on his face. The black oathstone pulsed between us. My name still crawled across its surface in thin silver letters.

LIA VALE.

Under it, two words appeared.

MUST BE SACRIFICED.

My mouth went dry. "You knew."

"I knew the stone would name a sacrifice. I didn't know it would be you."

"That is not the same thing." I stepped closer, forcing him back against the transport wall. "You dragged me onto this vehicle, took my evidence, tied your life to mine, and now you're telling me the magic rock might kill me?"

"The evidence is still yours."

"How generous."

His jaw tightened. "Lia—"

"No. You don't get to use my name like that fixes anything." I jabbed a finger at the stone. "What comes next?"