Chapter 58 · The Third Name in the Oath

"Move your hand, Calian."

His palm stayed over the oath stone, blocking the next line from me. Blood ran between his fingers and dripped onto the black chain wrapped around both our wrists.

"No."

"You don't get to say no after tying my life to yours."

His jaw locked. "I didn't tie anything. You kissed the chain."

"Because you were trying to die for me."

"That was the point."

"Not anymore."

I shoved his wrist aside. Pain snapped through my chest, hot and sharp, but I kept standing. The stone threw a weak black light across the chamber. My name still burned near the top of the sacrifice list.

LIA VALE.

Below it, the next line was half-covered by Calian's arm.

EXECUTION AUTHORITY GRANTED TO CALIAN VEY—

"You knew," I said.

Calian looked at me. His face had gone pale, but his eyes stayed hard. "I knew your name was on the list. I didn't know the command."

"You knew enough to hide it."

"I was trying to keep you alive.