Chapter 5

My heart slammed against my ribs, skipping a beat.

My pupils contracted in a flash of shock, but in the span of a single breath, I smoothed my face back into that vacant, bewildered mask.

Victor knew. How in the seven hells did he know?

I had buried my heartbeat, my pulse, the very fluctuations of my soul, all beneath an airtight performance.

The Shadow Healer from the Monastery had swallowed every morsel of it. Yet Victor had seen through me in an instant.

Victor straightened, releasing my chin, a glint of dark amusement dancing in his gold eyes. "It…