Chapter 25 · The Key in My Hand

"Touch that lock, Carson, and I swear I'll break your hand."

His fingers stopped a breath above the brass seal.

The old interrogation tower groaned around us. Half the council crowded the broken stairwell, watching. The rest pretended they weren't.

Dust fell from the ceiling and peppered my hair. The tower had started cracking ten minutes ago, but Carson had dragged me inside anyway.

For his father's records.

For my mother's name.

And because Carson still had the only key.

He looked back at me. His black coat hung open at one shoulder, torn from the fight outside. Blood ran from his temple to his jaw.

He didn't wipe it away.

"You want the file or not?"

"I want you to stop deciding what I'm allowed to know."

"Then stop threatening my hands and take the key."

He pulled a thin iron key from beneath his collar.

The chain slid over his throat.

My eyes caught on it for half a second too long. His gaze dropped to my mouth. When he looked up again, his expression had gone hard.