Chapter 15 · Soul Deal, No Takebacks

"Don't move. Not a single muscle, or I'll rip the core right out of your chest," Lyra hissed. Her hand was clamped tight over my wrist, her nails digging into my skin. We were huddled in the shadow of the altar, the air tasting like ozone and old blood.

I tried to shift, my body still feeling like it was made of wet clay and static. "You're shaking," I noted, my voice sounding like two stones grinding together. "Hard to keep a steady hand when you're terrified."

"Shut up," she snapped, her breath hot against my ear. She didn't let go. In fact, she pulled me closer, her shoulder pressing hard against mine. I could feel the frantic beat of her heart through the thin fabric of her robes. It was fast. Too fast. "You think this is a game? This is a Soul Pact. You don't just sign it with ink. You sign it with everything you are."

I looked down at the altar. The runes were glowing a sickly, pulsating violet. My 'Forbidden Devour' skill was screaming in the back of my mind, a hungry void that wanted to swallow the entire room. "I'm already a monster, Lyra.