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His eyes narrow, gold sharpening around those slit pupils. “Kings’ territory isn’t real forgiving when someone trespasses and pulls a blade on one of us.” His voice has changed now that he’s closer, a faint hiss slipping through some of the words. “Lucky for you, you didn’t throw it.”

My weight shifts back before I can stop it.

His eyes drop to my feet.

Shit.

“And if I run?”

“You won’t get far.”

The words hit something raw.

Twelve years of running.

Twelve years of changing towns.

Twelve years of changing names.

Twelve years of sleeping light and keeping exits close enough to reach before anyone could put their hands on me again.

Nobody gets to tell me I can’t fucking run.

My fingers twitch around the knife in my grip.

He sees that, too, and his eyes lift slowly to mine. “Don’t.”

My pulse kicks harder, anger pushing up alongside the song tightening behind my teeth. “You really like giving orders, don’t you?”

“Only when people look ready to do something stupid.”

“Maybe stupid works for me.”

Something close to amusement touches his mouth. “Then tonight’s gonna be interesting.”

He grabs my arm before I can react, his fingers tightening around my bicep as he starts dragging me toward the trees.

“Walk!” he snaps, giving my arm a sharp tug when I resist.

I dig my heels into the dirt, glaring at the back of his head as he tries to haul me along. My fingers tighten around the knife already in my grip, every instinct screaming at me to bury the damn thing somewhere painful enough to make him reconsider putting his fucking hands on me.

But the bastard knows I’m armed. He can see the blade, knows exactly what I am, and still has the balls to drag me through the woods like I’m completely fucking harmless. Which means he’s either seriously underestimated me, or he’s that fucking sure I can’t hurt him.

I’m not sure which one pisses me off more.

I yank against his grip again, earning myself a sharp look over his shoulder. His fingers tighten around my arm, and I raise the knife just enough to remind him exactly what I’m holding.

He barely glances at it before looking me straight in the eye.

Cocky asshole.

I glance over my shoulder one last time at the amber-violet light still shining through the thin fracture in the ground. My throat hums again, that same frequency tugging at the song behind my teeth.

I still don’t know what made that roar.

But apparently, I’m about to find out.

Chapter Six