Chapter 26 · The Ash Ledger - Chapter 26: The First Name on the List

Soren's gun was steady. That was the worst part.

Ilya had both hands up, back against the crystal array, and didn't look surprised. Just tired. The safehouse smelled like burnt wire and old coffee. Someone had kicked over a chair on the way in.

"You helped build it," Soren said. "The whole goddamn protocol."

The door behind him slammed open. Rowan came through first, Mara half a step back, both of them breathing hard. They stopped when they saw the gun.

"Soren." Rowan's voice was careful. "Put it down."

"No." Soren didn't look away from Ilya. "He's the one. He designed the mark system. He knows how they tagged the kids. He knows who gave the first order."

Ilya's mouth twitched. Not quite a smile. "I know a lot of things."

"Then start talking."

"Soren." Mara moved sideways, slow, putting herself between the gun and the array. "If you shoot him, we lose the only person who can pull the names."

"I don't care about names." Soren's hand didn't shake. It should have. "They have my daughter. My wife. They said if I don't bring Rowan's head back by morning, they're gone."

Rowan went still.

Mara swore under her breath.