ic, serrated tune between Linus's fingertips. In its presenc

st the weeping bricks, I felt the alleyway shrinking, the space swallowed by

of the pyre that broke

rrhage into distorted streaks of crimson; my skin felt like parchment held over a candle, crisping and fr

a way to vent the resonance, my veins woul

say in you

until his chest nearly brushed my trembling heat. His indigo eyes shimmered with a spectral, p

my throat only surrendered a shattered, br

vered wreck. My

oman catching a life raft, I lunged. I didn't just grab his hand; I invaded it. With a shameless d

zz

dulterated relief

sert. Linus Kerr was a man of the "Cold-Iron Law"-his blood was frost, his skin

ature seeking salvation, greedily absorb

s fr

natural disaster suddenly went as

d intake of air that sounded dangerously loud in the quiet alley. He didn't pull away, but his fingers twitched against

me, the monster

u think you

efore. I felt the vibration of it in his chest, laced

the wool of his sleeve, seeking more of him. Mor

o snap a tooth. His chest expanded on a sharp, jagged i

oug

m like a lash. Linus

to slide down the wall. Instinctively, Linus caught me by the waist. Through th

under his breath, looking down at me as i

ing, and reached into the inner pocket of his trench coat. He didn't pull

is knuckles and pressed it roughl

Cold-Iron sent a violent shiver through me-a

like a trapped bird. I watched his pupils blow wide, swallowing the in

I could see the decisio

. With a mask of cold indifference, he threaded the Cold-Iron chain through the

eached aro

ping shut sounded li

badge of heresy. The Cold-Iron chain bit into my skin, a permanent

y. My hand flew to the cold weight at

rm swirling in his blue eyes. He tugged the chain, forcing m

ur dog tag,

st my lips, his voice

wear it. As long as this is around your n

ng me stumbling toward the black carr

. Your cag