Chapter 6 · A Lock Made of Blood

"Put the blade down."

Mara didn't move. The edge stayed right where it was, cold against Adrian's throat. Her pulse hammered in her wrist, and the Black Key in her pocket burned hotter with every beat.

"You heard her," Mara said. Her voice came out rough. "My mother's voice. You heard what she said."

"I heard a dead zone pulling words out of your head." Adrian kept his hands up, palms open. "That's all it was."

"Liar."

"Mara—"

"She said I'm the key." The blade dug in a fraction deeper. "What does that mean? What did you do to me?"

Adrian's jaw tightened. His eyes flicked past her shoulder, toward the shop door, then back. "I didn't do anything. The surge marked you. I just made sure it didn't rip you apart in the street."

"By binding me to this?" She pulled the Black Key out with her free hand. The brass was hot enough to sting. The markings crawled across its surface, writhing like they were alive. "What the hell is this thing?"

"It's a seal. A container." His voice dropped. "And if you don't let me take it back, it's going to burn through you.