Chapter 20 · Run on Broken Bones

"Get your hand off me, Elias."

His fingers locked around my wrist before I could pull away. Not hard enough to break it. Just hard enough to make the curse flare under my skin.

Pain punched through my arm and straight into my chest.

I hit the brick wall behind me. Elias stepped in close, blocking the narrow conduit with his body. His coat brushed my knees. His breath touched my cheek, warm and sharp with blood.

"You want the council to find us? Keep shouting."

"I want you to stop dragging me around like a stolen suitcase."

"Then stop trying to run."

"I was trying to get away from you."

The mark between our palms burned brighter. A thin red line crawled over my skin, crossed my wrist, and vanished beneath my sleeve. Elias felt it too. His jaw tightened, but he didn't let go.

That was the problem with the binding. The harder we pulled apart, the tighter it dragged us together.

And Elias knew exactly how to use that.

He leaned closer. "Three seconds. The grid patrol will reach the junction. You can come with me, or you can stand here and let them erase you.