Chapter 21 · Ledger in the Blood

The door swung open and Kade's heart bottomed out.

Juno was on the floor. Blood pooled under her ribs, dark and spreading fast. Her face was gray, eyes half-closed, one hand pressed to her side like she could hold the wound shut by sheer spite.

Drake stood over her. Clean coat. Clean hands. The ledger tucked under one arm like it was a lunch order.

"Kade." Drake's smile didn't move. "And Guard Voss. How efficient."

Mira's blade was already out. Kade felt the heat climb his spine, the black rune pulsing hard enough to crack bone. He stepped forward and Drake raised one finger.

"Move and she stops breathing."

Kade froze.

Drake tilted his head, studying them both like specimens. "I had a cleaner exit planned. Then Miss Vale here decided to negotiate. Badly." He nudged Juno's boot with his own. She didn't flinch. Didn't move. "She thought I'd trade the ledger for her silence. I told her silence doesn't need to be bought when it can be buried."

"Let her go." Kade's voice came out flat. Dead.

"Why?