Chapter 23 · The Heir in the Kill Zone

“Don’t touch the seal.”

Lyra’s knife stopped one inch above the silver mark carved into the child’s chest.

The girl was strapped to a metal chair in the center of the kill room, maybe eleven, maybe twelve. Too young to have a court number burned into her wrist. Too young to be used as bait for a wolf heir.

Caelan stood behind Lyra with one hand wrapped around her upper arm. His grip was hard enough to hurt. His breath brushed the side of her neck, hot and uneven.

“Move,” he said.

“You want me to cut through a heart contract with a kitchen knife?”

“It’s not a kitchen knife.”

“It’s still pointed at her chest.” Lyra glanced back at him. “Let go.”

His fingers tightened.

The girl made a small sound behind the gag. Her eyes jumped from Lyra to Caelan, then to the black iron collar around her throat.

A red number glowed on the wall above her.

00:06:42.

Six minutes and forty-two seconds until the contract killed her.

Lyra’s arm tensed under Caelan’s hand. “You brought me here for proof.