Chapter 31 · The Crown Is Ticking

"Show me the mark."

Kael didn't move. He stood three feet away, close enough that I could see the vein pulsing at his jaw, far enough that I couldn't just grab him and check myself.

"Nora—"

"Show me," I said again. "Right now. Or I walk."

His eyes narrowed. "You can't walk. The outer gate's gone. Half the north wall is rubble. You wouldn't make it fifty yards."

"Then you better move fast."

For a second I thought he'd refuse. His hand went to his chest, fingers brushing the collar of his coat, and stopped. Like he was deciding how much truth I could handle.

Too late for that.

"Kael."

He exhaled through his teeth and stripped the coat off in one sharp motion. The shirt underneath was dark, torn at the shoulder, still damp with something I didn't want to name. He pulled the collar down.

The crown mark sat right over his heart.

Not faint. Not dormant. Fully lit, glowing faint gold under the dim light filtering through the cracked ceiling. The edges pulsed in time with his heartbeat, slow and steady, like a countdown I couldn't hear but knew was there.

I stepped closer.