Chapter 24 · The Heart They Stole

"Lia, get away from him!" Sable screamed from the driver's seat.

Cael's hand slammed against the inside of the car door. Metal folded beneath his fingers. His head snapped toward Lia, eyes gone black around the edges.

The broken contract lay between them, still smoking.

Lia grabbed the red crown mark on his wrist. "Cael. Look at me."

His answer came out rough and wrong. "You burned it."

"I had to."

"You burned your name."

"I know what I burned."

The car swerved hard. Sable cursed and yanked the wheel while a city warden's hook tore through the rear window. Glass sprayed across the back seat.

Cael moved faster than Lia could blink. One second he was against the door. The next, his body covered hers, one forearm braced beside her head and his other hand locked around her wrist.

His skin felt fever-hot.

"You erased yourself," he said. His breath hit her cheek. "Do you understand what that means?"

"It means Rowan can't use my legal seal to drag you around like a puppet. You're welcome."

His grip tightened.

Pain flashed up her arm.