Chapter 62 · Absolutely Not

Carson drew the knife from his belt.

I caught his wrist. "Absolutely not."

"It's a scratch."

"You're already bleeding."

"And you're stalling."

"I'm thinking." I tightened my grip. "Someone erased my memories, hid my brother, and built a vault that recognizes a marriage contract. Forgive me if I don't want to feed it."

The red line carved into the wall brightened.

A voice crackled from somewhere inside the stone. Flat. Mechanical. Old enough to make my teeth ache.

"Bound partners required. Blood proof pending."

I looked at Carson. "Did your family build this?"

"No."

"The council?"

"No."

"Then who did?"

His eyes locked on mine. "The royal house."

The room seemed to close around us.

I let out one sharp laugh. "There hasn't been a royal house in twenty years."

"That's what they want everyone to believe."

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"You arrested me knowing I might be tied to the crown?"

"I arrested you because your name was on the sabotage records."

"And then you married me."

"To keep the council from taking you."

"To control me.