Chapter 11 · The Second Lock

"Don't open the second lock."

Kane's hand clamped around my wrist before my fingers touched the brass seal.

The archive floor lurched. Black dust rained from the ceiling. Behind the iron shelves, orange fire slammed against the sealed doors and held there, stopped by nothing but Kane's outstretched arm.

"You dragged me in here to retrieve the order," I said. "Now you're telling me not to touch the lock?"

"I'm telling you the lock takes payment."

"You knew that."

His jaw tightened. "I knew it took blood. I didn't know what else it wanted."

"That's a pretty damn important detail to leave out of our marriage contract."

"You signed the contract knowing I leave things out."

I ripped my wrist free. His fingers slid over my skin before he let go. Too warm. Too firm.

Half a second of contact, and my body noticed like a traitorous idiot.

"Don't use that tone with me," I snapped. "Your city is burning. Your archive is trying to eat the evidence. And I'm the only person here who can hear what the old disasters left behind. So move."

Kane's eyes dropped to my mouth.

The pause was tiny.