Emma's POV:
The blade never reaches Lucian.
A hand—iron-strong—clamps around my wrist.
The Gamma. Moving faster than I can see.
Bone grinds. Pain explodes up my arm.
The blade falls. Clatters on stone.
"No—"
He forces me down. My knees hit ground hard.
My arm twisted behind my back. The angle wrong. Agonizing.
'I failed.'
The thought is worse than the physical pain.
'I had one chance and I failed.'
Tears burn my eyes. I blink them back furiously.
'Don't cry. Don't give him the satisfaction.'
But my body betrays me. Tears spill over.
I bite my lip hard. Taste blood.
Lucian picks up the blade. Examines it with interest.
"A kitchen knife." His voice is delighted. Amused. "You're even more defiant than those six months. You actually know how to use a knife now?"
He leans clos
