Chapter 23 · I snapped. His eyes cut toward me

The guard's hand tightened around his cuff.

Carson raised the blade half an inch.

"Don't," I snapped.

His eyes cut toward me. "Don't what?"

"Don't turn this into a bloodbath."

"They came for you."

"And you're bleeding through your coat. You don't get to threaten six guards like you're invincible."

"I'm standing, aren't I?"

"Barely."

The captain's gaze dropped to Carson's side. "Commander Rook, you're injured. You can't protect her."

Carson's sword angled toward him. "Want to test that?"

"Carson." I caught his sleeve. "Put it down."

His body went rigid beneath my fingers. Heat rolled off him. His breath brushed my temple when he leaned closer.

"Tell me why you care whether I do."

"Because Noah is behind that failing shield. Because if you kill one of them, the council gets exactly what it wants."

"And if they take you?"

"Then I deal with it."

"You think they'll let you deal with anything from a cell?"

"I think I can survive a cell better than you can survive another wound.