Chapter 15 · The Backup Body

Cass's hand burned where the ring sat.

Nix was halfway across the quad, laughing at something on his phone. He had maybe four minutes before the thing in the east tower moved. Cass knew because he'd watched it happen eleven times. Different victim, same wet crunch at the end.

Mara's nails were still in his sleeve. "You see it?"

"Yeah." His throat felt like sand. "It took my name off. Put his on."

"So the ring's playing favorites now." She let go but didn't step back. Her boot was against his. "Or you finally pissed it off enough to move down the list."

Nix looked up from his phone. Waved. Started walking toward the alchemy lab.

Wrong direction. The tower was behind him.

Cass moved before he could think. Mara matched his pace, half a step ahead like she was expecting him to sprint. The grass was still wet from the morning sprinklers. His shoes slipped once. Mara caught his elbow without looking.

"Nix!" Cass's voice came out too loud.

Nix stopped. Turned. His grin was the same lopsided mess it always was. "Dude. You look like you saw a ghost.