Chapter 18 · The Name in the Testimony

"Evelyn," Lucas said.

"Don't call me that."

His gun stayed trained on the sealed tower door. His other hand hovered beside mine, close enough to stop me but not close enough to touch.

The reader waited beneath the glass.

One wrong move, and the tower would lock us inside with the purge system running.

Lucas glanced at my hand. "What should I call you?"

The answer burned behind my teeth.

Smoke. Screaming. My father's hand shoving me backward. A girl's face vanishing behind the guards before I even understood she was gone.

I swallowed. "I heard my father say it once. Before the guards came."

Lucas stepped closer. "Say it."

"He said, 'Elara, get behind me.'"

The tower went silent.

Then the reader lit up.

BLOODLINE ACCEPTED.

ELARA VOSS.

Lucas's face changed.

Not surprise.

Recognition.

I caught it before he buried it.

"You knew."

"I suspected."

"Liar."

"Evelyn—"

"Don't call me that!"

I slammed my palm against the reader.

The glass cracked beneath my hand.

A needle punched through my skin.

Pain tore up my arm. I jerked back, but Lucas caught me around the waist and dragged me against his chest.

"Hold still.