“Something you need?” I ask. The words come out colder than I intend, low and defensive, like my voice is trying to hide the fact that my pulse is doing laps.
His eyes lock on mine—dark hazel, rimmed in gold, but it’s the weight beneath that catches me. My spine goes tight before I can name why.
“Lyra, is it?” Talen asks, voice low, eyes narrow.
“Yes…”
“Good,” He smiles again, but this one doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve been waiting to put a face to the name of the person I’m going tokill.”
CHAPTER FIVE
For a heartbeat, I don’t breathe.Not because I’m scared, though honestly, maybe I should be, but becausewhat the helldid he just say?
He wants to kill me?
He doesn't even know me!
"Oh shit, well that was quick," Ezzy breaks the silence with a nervous laugh. "I thought you’d survive at least two.. maybe three days…"
My fingers twitch, a reflex. I reach inward, toward my Threads—the hum in my blood, something shifts but it’s quiet, dulled, whatever Merrin did at the border still clings like smoke.
Fuck. One month, that’s the deal. But Ezzy’s right, I might not make it through the next five minutes. I need to figure out how to survive this, and fast.
“Well, that’s one hell of a greeting,” I say, keeping my voice flat as the crowd thickens around us.
Ezzy’s friends hover behind me, wide-eyed, while across from us, the dark-haired girl and the officer who whispered to Talen earlier shift into place at his side.
“Don’t take it personally,” Talen says, amused. “But I’ve been looking forward to this.”
He steps in closer, precise and predator-smooth. I shift back, barely. But he sees it, tracking me like prey. Ezzy’s dagger’s already in my hand. Cold, steady and waiting.
“Good,” he smiles. “I was hoping you’d want to play. Would’ve been such a waste if you just rolled over.”
What the fuck is this guy’s problem?
“Glad I didn’t disappoint.” A flick of my wrist and the blade shifts, just enough to brush his hip. “I don’t roll over for anyone.”
“Even better.” He leans in until his breath brushes my ear. “Means I get to savour every second before I break you.” Then, louder, almost cheerful as he steps back a few paces. “You know, this just got a whole lot more fun. I thought I’d be facing some pampered Innerlander brat. But no, they gave the spot to someone likeyou. Don’t think that uniform hides where you’re from,” his stare darkens, my spine tightens. “It doesn’t. It just makes your face easier to aim for. We all know what you are.” A beat. “Outerlander.”
A slow, infuriating grin curls across his face, left side first before stretching wider, but I don’t lower the blade. My grip just locks tighter.
“That’s a fucking bonus,” he adds. “Double the pleasure. Double the payback.”
Thoughts tumble fast, scrambling to piece together a puzzle I don’t even have the edges for. I expected people might try to kill me here, that’s not paranoia, it’s math. An Outerlander in a Citadel uniform? That’s politics.
But this? This feels personal.
A tremor races through me, breath hooks in my chest, but it’s off. Dull at the edges, like my fear’s been filtered, muted just enough to feel wrong.
He’s talking about killing me. I should be panicking. I’m not.
Still, if he’s got a reason to come for me specifically, I need to know what it is, fast. Weight shifts to my back foot as I edge the blade forward, calculating, but he sees it, catches the move and smirks.
“Go ahead,” he challenges, “Give them a reason to drag you out of here, I’dloveto watch you scream.”
A familiar itch stirs beneath my skin, magic waking up.
He’s baitingme.
