Chapter 61 · You say that like he isn't currently choking you

"You say that like he isn't currently choking you."

"He wants you afraid."

"I am afraid."

For one second, neither man moved.

Calian's chest rose against Sevryn's forearm. His eyes stayed on me, hard and focused, but his lips parted like he wanted to say something he couldn't risk saying in front of Sevryn.

I stepped closer to the stone.

"Lia," he warned.

"Tell me where to cut."

"The slot."

"I see the slot. What do I put in it?"

"Your blood."

"You could've led with that."

I dragged the blade across my palm.

The cut was shallow, but the stone reacted fast. Red light climbed my arm and wrapped around my wrist. The oath mark tightened like a hot wire.

Calian's head snapped up.

"Stop!"

"Why?"

"Because it's linking you to the command."

"That is the plan."

"No. The plan was to rewrite the life-right, not let it claim you."

"Then help me!"

Sevryn leaned closer to his ear. "She'll die for you. Is that what you want, Calian?