Chapter 17 · Too Many Secrets in One Car

"Drive!" Lia slammed both hands against the back of Sable's seat. "Unless you want the wardens to search us one corpse at a time."

Sable jerked the wheel. The stolen sedan jumped the curb, clipped a stack of empty crates, and shot into the narrow service lane behind Bell Market.

Cael hit the door hard enough to rattle the glass. His shoulder struck first. The silver cut beneath his coat opened again, and dark blood ran down his sleeve.

"Stop touching me," he growled.

"Then stop bleeding on my boots."

"Lia."

His voice dropped low. Not a warning this time. A leash pulling tight between her ribs.

She looked over.

Cael had one hand pressed to his shoulder. The other was locked around the iron chain at his wrist. His knuckles had gone pale. His eyes were still human, but the pupils had narrowed into thin black slits.

The chain connecting them burned across Lia's wrist.

"You're losing control," she said.

"I'm fine."

"You nearly crushed Sable's throat three minutes ago."

"She stole from the book."

"You tried to kill her."

"And you took the damage." His gaze snapped to the red mark spreading beneath Lia's collar.