Chapter 27 · Finn's Ten-Minute Sale

"Don't shoot."

Finn stood in the doorway with both hands up, palms out like he was calming a spooked dog. His jacket hung open. No weapon. No smirk.

"Give me one reason," Mara said. The cuff on her wrist still hummed hot from the blood she'd smeared across Calder's chest. Her father's file lay open on the table between them, the living map still glowing, Finn's name pulsing red under the label INFORMANT.

"I got ten minutes," Finn said. "That's your reason."

Calder moved fast. He stepped in front of Mara, wings half-spread, claws out. "You sold us."

"Yeah." Finn didn't flinch. "I sold you twice. Once to Seraphine when you walked into the Brass. Once more an hour ago when you left the lockup."

"Then why are you here?" Mara's voice came out flat. She didn't lower the shard of spell-glass she'd grabbed off the table.

"Because she's sealing the block in nine minutes." Finn stepped inside and kicked the door shut behind him. "Every exit. Every window. Every rat-hole. You stay here, you don't leave."

Mara's stomach dropped. "What do you mean, sealing?"

"Ward-core theft gets you a cordon. That's protocol.