Chapter 12 · The Loophole Under the Moon

"Don't touch the seal." Caelan caught Lyra's wrist before her fingers reached the blood-mark carved into the tower floor.

His grip was hot enough to hurt. His thumb pressed over her pulse, counting every beat like he owned the right.

Lyra looked down at his hand, then up at his face. "Take your fingers off me."

"You heard the command."

"I heard a dead court clerk whisper through a puddle of blood. Big difference."

"The seal is active."

"No kidding. It's glowing."

Red light crawled through the cracks beneath their boots. The mark in the stone looked like a wolf's jaw wrapped around a crown. Each pulse made Caelan's shoulders jerk.

He was trying not to show it. That was the problem. Caelan Rook could hide a knife, a lie, and an entire clan's betrayal behind a calm face. He couldn't hide the silver spreading through his eyes.

Lyra yanked her wrist. He didn't let go.

"Caelan."

"Say it."

"You're about three breaths from losing control."

His jaw tightened. "I'm aware."

"Then stop pretending you can stand there and wrestle the curse by yourself."

"And let you break the command?"

"Yes."

"The bond will take the cost.