Chapter 57 · Don't say that

His head snapped down.

"Don't say that."

"Why? It scares you?"

"Yes."

The answer stole my next breath.

The chain pulled again. Calian's shoulder twisted. Blood dripped from his hand, each drop disappearing into the stone beneath us.

"Give me your wrist," he said.

"What?"

"I need the mark open."

"You just told me to stay away."

"I changed my mind."

"That must be painful for you."

"Lia."

I shoved my wrist toward him.

His fingers closed around it. Warm. Shaking, though he tried to hide it.

"Tell me what happens if I share the cost," I said.

"It spreads."

"To me?"

"To both of us."

"And if we do nothing?"

"It chooses one of us."

"You."

"Me."

"You sound very sure."

"The oath knows what I am. It knows what I owe."

"And what am I?"

His eyes lifted to mine.

"The person it was sent to find."

The chain jerked so hard we crashed against the broken altar. His chest pinned me there.