Chapter 14 · Three Days Left

The mark burns the second I step back into the apartment.

Karl's standing by the window. He doesn't turn. His shoulders are tight, hands braced against the frame like he's holding himself up.

"You went to see him," he says.

Not a question.

I drop my keys on the counter. My hand's shaking. "Yeah."

"Did he touch you."

Still not a question. His voice is flat. Cold. The kind of cold that makes you check where the exits are.

"No," I say. "He just talked."

"Talked." Karl laughs, but there's no sound in it. "Eli doesn't talk. He makes offers. What did he offer you."

I don't answer right away. My shoulder's throbbing where the mark sits, hot under my shirt. It's been getting worse every day. Three days left. That's what Eli said. Three days and I'll come crawling back.

Karl finally turns. His eyes catch the light from the street, reflective for half a second. Not human. He looks like he hasn't slept in a week. Maybe he hasn't. I don't actually know if vampires sleep.

"Amy."

"He said he'd break the bond," I tell him. "If I bring you in."

Silence.

Then Karl moves. Fast.