Chapter 14 · The Name Only My Mother Knew

"Drop the mark, Mara."

Soren's blade pressed under my jaw before I could finish raising my hand.

Cold steel kissed my skin. His other hand locked around my wrist, thumb planted over the counter-mark burned into my palm. One twist, and he could break my fingers before I finished the debt phrase.

Behind him, three collectors held the alley mouth.

The first had copper chains wrapped around both arms. Every link carried a civilian name. The second wore a white mask and held a debt needle between two fingers. The third had no weapon at all. He didn't need one. Every person he touched forgot who they owed.

Six marked civilians crouched against the brick wall behind me.

I had already saved two.

The other six were still bleeding from their wrists.

Soren looked at them once, then brought his attention back to me. His eyes were flat. Not angry. Worse. Careful.

"You used the counter-mark on the woman with the broken hand," he said.

"She was dying."

"And the boy?"

"He was twelve."

Soren's jaw tightened. "You don't get to pick who lives because you feel guilty."

"Funny. That's exactly what collectors do.