Page 176 of Blood Curse

“You’ve taken her body,” I said. “You still need her voice.”

She didn’t answer.

The Crown wanted silence to frighten me into acting first. If I tore at the metal, I would tear Bryony’s scalp. If I restrained her, it could stop her heart while I held her.

I took the wrapped heartblood dagger from the mantel and put it inside my coat.

“I’m following because I choose to.”

The Crown’s light brightened.

I looked past it, searching Bryony’s face for any response it had failed to suppress.

“I asked for a key to your flat,” I said. “You promised to argue with me in your kitchen, and I intend to collect both drawers. Whatever this thing makes your body do tonight, I’m holding you to that future.”

Her pulse changed by half a beat.

The Crown could have caused it. I chose to believe Bryony had.

“Save your strength. You don’t need to reassure me yet. Move when it matters.”

Bryony crossed the outer room. Red light ran ahead of her over the carpet and through the open doors. Every other passage stayed dark.

Lenora came around the corner at a run. She had a knife in one hand and her dark braid hung over her shoulder.

“What happened?”

“The Crown has her body.”

Lenora stepped in front of Bryony. “Bryony, look at me.”

Bryony kept walking.

Lenora caught her shoulders. The Crown stopped Bryony’s body, but it didn’t make her fight.

“Her pulse?” Lenora asked.

“Fast. Human. Steady enough.”

“Bryony, squeeze my arm.” Lenora tightened her grip. “Swear at me. Blink twice. Give me anything.”

The Crown made Bryony turn her head towards the red path.

Lenora asked, “Has it spoken?”

“Not yet.”

“Then we stop her reaching the hall.”

“How?”

“I’ll hold her. You get the metal off.”

“The points are fused into her scalp.”

“Then break the fucking chair it wants her in.”

“That may only make it choose another.”