Chapter 24 · The Voice in the Back Room

Leah's wrist is down to one bar.

Aiden watches it flicker like a dying bulb. The light pulses once, twice, then holds. Barely.

"Tell me you didn't kill her." Leah's voice cracks. She's still holding the authorization document, Marcus's ink drying on the edges. "Tell me that signature's fake."

Aiden opens his mouth. Nothing comes out.

Because he doesn't know. That's the worst part. Three hundred years of memory and the one thing that matters is just—gone. Like someone reached into his head and scooped it out clean.

"I don't remember signing that," he says finally. "I don't remember any of it."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I have."

Leah crumples the paper in her fist. Her knuckles go white. For a second Aiden thinks she's going to hit him—hopes she does, actually, because at least that would be something real. But she just stands there shaking.

Ink lands on the counter between them. The raven's feathers are still ruffled from Marcus's visit, eyes too bright. He caws once, low and rough, then hops toward the back room door.

"Not now," Aiden mutters.

Ink caws again. Louder this time.