Chapter 25 · The Wolf Drops on the Death Stage

"Put the knife down, Lyra."

Caelan's voice came from behind her, rough and low. His hand locked around her wrist before she could drive the blade into the warrant pillar.

Lyra twisted hard. "Let go."

"You have three seconds before the guards cut your brother's throat."

That stopped her.

Across the execution square, a black iron cage hung above the crowd. Her brother stood inside it with his wrists chained to the bars. Jace's face was pale, but he still managed to glare at the officials below him.

A red number burned above the cage.

00:02:41.

The warrant pillar beside Lyra pulsed under her fingertips. Her name crawled across its surface in silver letters. Caelan Rook's signature sat beneath it, sharp and unmistakable.

EXECUTION AUTHORIZED.

TARGET: LYRA VOSS.

"You brought me here to watch him die," she said.

Caelan shoved her behind the stone pillar as three crossbows snapped toward them. "I brought you here because the court is forcing me to choose between your life and his."

"And what did you choose?"

His body pressed close enough that she felt the heat of him through both their coats. His breath brushed her temple.