Chapter 66 · My grip loosened around the knife

Calian didn't look at him. He kept his eyes on me.

"I chose you because you were the only person in Esterport who saw what was happening and kept digging after everyone else stopped. You looked at the council and called them liars on a live feed. You put your sister's name on the screen when they wanted her buried."

My grip loosened around the knife.

"You barely knew me."

"I knew enough."

"You hated me."

"I was trying to stay away from you."

"That isn't the same thing."

"No," he said. "It isn't."

The space between us felt too small. I could see the faint scar beside his mouth, the one I had touched once when he was half asleep and never mentioned again. Now his fingers strained against the chain, close enough that if I reached out, I could put my hand in his.

I didn't.

The core pulled.

Calian's breath broke. His head dropped forward.

"Calian!"

I lunged, but a guardian blocked me with his sword.

"Stay outside the ring," the man said.

"Move.