Chapter 20 · The Hunt Starts at Midnight

“Put the knife down, Lyra.”

Caelan had one hand around her wrist and the other braced beside her head. His claws had pushed through the skin at his fingertips. Not enough to draw blood. Enough to remind her that he could.

Behind him, the death warrant burned in the air.

The page was black at the edges, its red letters crawling like live insects. CAELAN ROOK. CONVICTED. EXECUTION AUTHORIZED AT MIDNIGHT.

The clock on the contract had three minutes left.

Lyra kept the silver blade pressed under his ribs. “Move your hand.”

“No.”

“Then I’ll make you move it.”

His gaze dropped to the knife. “You won’t.”

“You’re very confident for a man with his own execution order hanging over his head.”

“I’m confident because you’ve had five chances to kill me.” His fingers tightened around her wrist. Heat rolled off him, sharp and uneven, like his blood was burning. “You keep saving me.”

“I keep saving my investment.”

“Liar.”

The word hit harder than it should have.

Lyra jerked her wrist. Caelan caught the movement and shoved her back against the stone pillar. The contract flared above his shoulder.