Chapter 10 · The Bloodline They Erased

"Put the knife down, Mira, or I start cutting people you actually care about." The Court enforcer pressed a silver blade under Lyra's jaw and dragged her backward against the archive table.

Mira stood three steps away with one hand locked around the first ledger. Her fingers had gone numb from gripping it.

Caelan was on his knees beside the broken door, one arm pinned behind him by a chain of black iron. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth. His eyes stayed on Mira, sharp and furious.

"You brought us here," Lyra said. The blade lifted her chin. "Tell me you didn't bring us here."

"I didn't," Mira snapped.

The enforcer smiled. "She did. She opened the archive seal, used your blood key, and sent the wolf heir straight into our hands."

"I used a stolen key," Mira said. "There's a difference."

"Not to the Court."

Caelan pulled against the chain. The metal bit into his wrist. "Mira. Look at me."

She did.

His voice dropped. "How many exits?"

"Three."

"How many are guarded?"

"All of them."

"Then stop staring and find the fourth."

The enforcer shoved Lyra harder into the table.