Chapter 31 · The Ash Ledger - Chapter 31: The Bill Under the Crown

Mara's wrist burned black.

She looked down. The mark crawled up her forearm like spilled ink, same as Rowan's. Same geometric pattern. Same sick heat.

"What the hell," she said.

Rowan grabbed her arm. His eyes went wide. "It tagged you."

"I noticed."

"No. Listen." He turned her wrist. The mark pulsed. "That's an execution order. The Ledger just flipped you."

Mara pulled free. Her hand shook. "I cleared your name. That was the deal."

"Yeah, and now it wants you dead for doing it." Rowan's mark flared in sync with hers. He hissed through his teeth. "The system doesn't like people who break pattern."

She looked at the courtyard. Bodies everywhere. Smoke still rising. The nobles had scattered after the executioner announcement, but guards ringed the perimeter now. They hadn't moved yet. They were waiting.

"How long do I have?"

"Depends. Hours, maybe. It'll broadcast your location to every asset in range." He stepped closer. "Mara. We need to move."

"My brother's still in there." She pointed at the inner tower. The Regent's wing. Three stories of stone and iron bars. "I'm not leaving without him."

"You won't make it to the door."

She met his eyes.