Chapter 20 · The Second Bond

"Ask her why every gate is turning toward Blackwater instead of the lower wards!" Cyrus spat onto the floor. "She redirected the purge current."

The map convulsed under his hand.

Red lines tore away from the outer wards and bent toward the central harbor.

Toward us.

"Seal the chamber," Cassian ordered. His sword cleared its sheath with a hard ring. "Nobody leaves."

I shoved back from the council table. "You don't command this hearing."

His eyes cut to mine. "I command every gate your purge just touched."

"Not anymore."

Something slammed beneath our boots.

A second lock answered from below.

The tower bucked. Stone cracked through the floor, and the council table shot sideways. Chairs scraped. Someone screamed.

Cassian caught my elbow before I went down. His fingers dug into my sleeve, hot and hard.

"We've got seconds," he said.

I yanked against his grip. "For what?"

"For me to make this council witness the bond."

My laugh came out sharp. "You mean claim me."

"No."

His hand slid down my arm and stopped just above my tide mark.

He didn't touch it.

Not yet.

His breath dragged across my cheek.