Chapter 13 · Sable yelled. Lia pressed her palm harder into the truth plate

The next bolt never fired. Cael crossed the room and knocked the crossbow from the warden's hands. Sable swept the man's legs out.

"Door!" Sable yelled.

Lia pressed her palm harder into the truth plate. "I need the contract's first command."

"It says you are guilty," Rowan called from behind the shelves. "Say it aloud, and the ward will open for the lawful arrest."

"You really think I'm that stupid?"

"I think you're desperate."

"Same thing to men who don't know me."

The plate heated beneath her hand. Letters crawled across its surface.

LIA VEY. WITNESS. KEEPER. EXECUTIONER.

Her stomach turned.

"Cael," she said. "It listed three roles."

"Which one is yours?"

"I don't know."

"You always know."

"Stop saying that like you remember me."

He went still.

Lia looked back at him. "Do you?"

The wardens were closing in again. Rowan had recovered. Blood dripped from his palm, but his smile was back.

"Answer her," Rowan said. "Tell her what you remember, Rook. Tell her how you died."

Cael's gaze stayed on Lia.

"I remember a knife," he said.

The plate flashed.

"Whose knife?" Lia asked.

"Yours.