Chapter 15 · The Black-Grain Warehouse

"You're coming with me." Huo Yanzhan's hand closed around my wrist before Su Liyue finished her elegant little speech about how convenient it was that I had the antidote ready.

I yanked back. Didn't work. His grip was iron wrapped in calluses.

"Where?"

"Somewhere you can't poison anyone else." He pulled me toward the door.

"I didn't poison him." I dug my heels in. The stone floor didn't care. "I saved him. You saw—"

"I saw you produce a cure no one else had." His voice was flat, but his jaw was tight enough to crack teeth. "Move."

Su Liyue stood by Jingchuan's bedside, one hand resting on the blanket like she was the one who'd brought him back from the edge. Her mouth curved in something that wasn't quite a smile.

"General," she said softly, "I'll watch over the young master while you investigate."

I twisted in Huo's grip. "If you let her near him—"

"Shut up." He hauled me out into the hallway. Two guards fell in behind us, their armor clanking with each step.

The corridor was cold.