Chapter 31 · The Trial Under the Station

"Lia Vey, kneel and accept your sentence." The whole train spoke with one voice.

Cael moved before I could breathe. His arm locked around my waist, and he dragged me behind him as every passenger turned in their seats.

Their faces were blank. Their mouths opened together.

"Murderer. Contract witch. Living weapon. Death by the authority of the city court."

"You heard them," I said.

"I heard enough." Cael shoved me toward the train doors. "Stay behind me."

"That is a terrible plan."

"You have a better one?"

"Yes. Stop acting like a wall and let me see the contract."

His hand tightened against my ribs. Heat pushed through his coat. His breathing came hard against my hair, rough and uneven, like the wolf under his skin had started scratching at the cage.

"You read the contract," he said. "You tell me why my name is on it."

"I was about to. Then your creepy audience started chanting my death sentence."

The passengers stood. All at once. Their joints clicked in the dark train car.

The doors stayed shut.

A red line appeared across the glass. Then another. Symbols crawled over the windows, sealing us inside.

Cael drew his blade.