Chapter 13 · The Blood Mark Answers

"Marcus." Reina's voice came from behind me.

I spun with fire already burning in my palm. She stood three feet away, one hand loose at her side. The black mark carved into her skin looked wet.

"Don't move."

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"That's exactly what Shadow would say."

Her jaw tightened. "Then ask me something he couldn't know."

I kept the flame between us. "You first."

"The third loop. You asked why I joined Sentinel." She took one careful step closer. "I told you my father wanted me somewhere I couldn't ruin his reputation."

"That's in the file."

"Fine." Her eyes stayed on mine. "Loop seventeen. East stairwell. Three in the morning. You were sitting on the floor, and you didn't know I was there."

The flame dipped.

Reina's voice dropped. "You said, 'I'm so tired, Elena.' Then you said, 'I can't save them. I can't even save myself.'"

My hand went cold.

Nobody had heard that. I hadn't even admitted it to myself.

"I left before you saw me," she said. "I didn't want you to know I heard you."

"That proves you were there." I lowered the fire an inch. "It doesn't prove you're still you."