Chapter 19 · Bet One Year

"Get away from her." Cole shoved the burning card across the table, but the black ink crawled back under his palm.

Eve's shadow had torn loose from her boots. It stood behind her like a second woman, thin and crooked, wearing Silas Quinn's face.

Eve didn't look at it. Her hand stayed clamped over the cut in her palm, blood slipping between her fingers and dripping onto the contract.

"Cole," she said, low and sharp, "don't touch the card."

"You signed it."

"I know what I signed."

"You signed my death."

The shadow smiled with Silas's mouth.

"Not death," it said. "Collection. There's a difference."

Cole grabbed Eve by the shoulder and pulled her behind him. She hit his back with one hand.

"Move."

"No."

"I said move."

"And I said no. You don't get to bleed on a Council contract and call that a plan."

The card on the table snapped upright. Its edges flashed silver. A line of red text burned across the face.

COLE MERCER — ONE LIFE, CLAIMED IN FULL.

His wrist flared hot under the old contract mark. He clenched his teeth and kept his arm down.

Silas's shadow tilted its head.