Chapter 11 · The Debt in His Voice

"Put the knife down, Ivy."

Cade caught my wrist before the blade reached the stranger's throat.

The man had Mira trapped against a market stall. One arm pinned her across the chest. A silver hook rested beneath her jaw.

Mira's boots scraped against the stone. "Don't listen to him. Hit the bastard."

"I'm trying."

Cade twisted my wrist until my fingers went numb. His chest pressed against my back, heat cutting through my coat. The chain between our life-links pulled tight, burning around both our wrists.

"You stab him," Cade said against my ear, "and that hook opens her throat."

"Then stop holding me."

"No."

The stranger smiled. His teeth were black around the gums. "Warden Rourke. Still playing hero with the reject?"

Cade shoved me behind him. "Take your arm off her."

"You don't give orders here."

"I just did."

The hook jerked higher.

Mira sucked in a breath.

I caught the tremor in the stranger's elbow. His eyes kept sliding toward the iron door behind the stall.

He wasn't confident. He was waiting.

"He's waiting for someone," I said.

Cade didn't look back. "I know."

"Great. Want to share before Mira loses her head?"

"On my mark, duck."