Chapter 26 · The Council Comes Collecting

The door swings open before Aiden can move.

Three figures step inside. Black Council robes, hoods up. The kind of entrance that says they own the room before they even speak. The lead one's tall, moves like water. Aiden's seen that walk before. Can't place it. His brain's still stuck on the burn mark searing into Leah's palm.

Ink's beak snaps open. No sound comes out but the threat's clear.

"Aiden Crow." The voice is smooth. Male. Familiar in a way that makes Aiden's teeth ache. "It's been a while."

Leah's still staring at her hand. The reaper mark glows faint silver against her skin, edges raw like a fresh brand. Her debt tracker's lit up with her own name. One bar. She's not breathing right.

Aiden steps between her and the robes. "Cafe's closed."

"Is it?" The lead figure tilts his head. "Funny. The sign says twenty-four hours."

"Sign's wrong."

"A lot of things are wrong tonight." The man moves deeper into the cafe. The other two fan out, blocking the side exit and the kitchen. Professional. Practiced. "Two thousand debts. You're at nineteen ninety-seven. So close, Aiden. Must be killing you."

Aiden doesn't move.