ght. I stood in the middle of the room, my hand still wrapped in a bloody n

small cabinet, pulled out a black medical

sn't the cold, hard voice he used with his father.

knelt on the floor between my knees. He reached out and took my hand, his touch firm

king at the deep slice in my palm. "I

. It stung like fire, and I gripped the silk of my dress with my other hand. "Yo

s blue eyes were dark. "You think I like doing what I do

t it," I said,

fast and precise. "In this family, if you aren't the one holding the knife, you're the one feel

ed. "He mentioned the name Thorne. He

uspects. But as long as I say you're a nobody from the streets, he can't prove it. If

ate my father'

s Thorne was a man of honor. My father... my father is a man of power. You can't have both in this world.

spine. "He killed him? My f

v," Kaelen said, turning to face me.

ing on my finger. "And yo

the whiskey and the iron on him. He leaned down, his han

ose to mine I could see the tiny gold flecks in his blue eyes. "I became his shadow. His weapon. But

was beating so fast I thought h

my breath hitch. "Because you're the only thing in this world that isn't stained, Ivy.

him away. I should have been afraid. But

tarted, but my

my lips. "Don't say my name l

ne vibrated on the nightstand. The sou

ing instantly. He answered the phone, his face tu

tightening. "How many? Fine. Lock the

he romantic tension was gone,

ning?" I aske

und a 'prize.' They think if they kill you, they can start a war with my father while he's dist

lled out a small, sleek p

use this," I said, holding it

andle the breach. I've put guards at your door, but don't trust anyone. If someone w

n, then at him. "W

I saw the boy from the fire again. "I've been looking for you for

nd of the lock clicking felt