Chapter 28 · No More Resets

"You're insane," Reina said. Her hand was still on the detonator. "Shadow's watching. The second I put this mark back on, he'll know."

"Let him know." Marcus didn't move from where he stood, three feet between them, close enough to see the sweat at her hairline. "I'm done playing his game."

"His game keeps you alive. Keeps all of us—"

"Dead. It keeps you dead." He took one step closer. "Twenty-seven bodies. Every loop. You think I haven't tried killing you first? Tried locking you up? Tried warning everyone? Shadow pivots. He's got his own precog advantage and he counters every move I telegraph."

Reina's jaw tightened. "So what's different this time?"

"This time I'm not telegraphing." Marcus reached into his jacket pocket, slow, and pulled out a small glass vial. Clear liquid. No glow. "Nullifier serum. Sixty seconds after you drink this, your magic goes silent. No signature. No trace. Shadow's precog won't see you coming because there's nothing to see."

"That's military-grade. Where'd you—"

"Stole it from the armory. Four loops ago." He held it out. "You take this. You mark yourself.