Chapter 29 · Too Close to Lie

"Move, Lia. Now." Cael shoved me into the corner of the train compartment just as the doors slammed open.

Three passengers stumbled in behind us. One man cursed. A woman dropped a paper bag. Nobody looked twice at the blood on Cael's sleeve.

I did.

"Your arm is dripping on my boots."

"Then stop staring at it."

"Gladly." I grabbed his coat and yanked him down beside me. "Get under the seat."

His eyes narrowed. Gold flashed beneath the dark gray of his irises.

"You're not hiding me under a seat."

"You're six feet of wanted muscle with a burned memory crystal in your pocket. Pick a better place."

"The crystal is ash."

"The wardens don't know that. They only know you ran from the auction house with me."

A brass notice clanged against the train wall outside.

WANTED: LIA VEY. CONTRACT FRAUD. NOBLE MURDER. ARMED ESCAPE.

The words glowed red through the narrow glass panel in the door.

Cael saw them. His jaw tightened.

"You have a lovely reputation," he said.

"And you have a lovely face. We all carry burdens. Get down."

He caught my wrist before I could push him again.

His hand was hot. Too hot.