Chapter 12 · He Saw Her Die

Kael's hand slammed into the stone beside her head.

"You're not doing it."

Nora didn't flinch. She kept her eyes on his, even though his face was so close she could count the flecks of gold buried in the gray of his iris. The corridor was narrow, cold, and he'd cornered her three steps from the war room door.

"I have to," she said.

His jaw tightened. "No. You don't."

"Kael—"

"I've seen it." His voice dropped, rough and raw. "I watched you walk into that room. I watched the blade go through your throat. I watched you bleed out on my floor while I couldn't move fast enough to stop it."

Her breath caught. He wasn't supposed to remember. The reset wiped everyone but her.

Except now, standing here with his palm flat against the wall and his chest an inch from hers, she could see it in his eyes. He remembered.

"When?" she whispered.

His other hand came up, fingers hovering near her jaw, not quite touching. "Last loop. The one before this. I don't know how many times you've done this, Nora, but I remember the last one. I remember your blood on my hands.