Chapter 28 · The Debt Owner

"Don't touch her."

Kael's voice comes out wrong. Too low. Too sharp. Like something with teeth is using his mouth.

I'm on my back on cold stone, debt lines burning straight up my arm toward my chest. The fall through the vault door knocked the wind out of me, and now I'm staring up at Kael standing over me, and his eyes are black from edge to edge.

No gold left. Just void.

"Kael."

He doesn't move. Doesn't blink. His claws are out, dripping something dark onto the floor between us.

"Step back," Milo says from somewhere behind me. His voice is shaking. "Nora, get up. Get up now."

I can't. The debt lines are crawling up my ribs, and every inch they move feels like glass under my skin. I can see them glowing through my shirt, black veins splitting toward my heart.

Kael tilts his head. Watching. His claws flex.

"Kael Mercer," I say. My voice comes out steady. I don't know how. "Look at me."

He is looking. That's the problem.

"Say your name," I tell him.

Nothing.

The debt lines hit my collarbone. I can feel my pulse stuttering under them, trying to push back. Failing.