Chapter 8 · Mara felt his pulse. Fast. Strong. Not as

Mara felt his pulse. Fast. Strong. Not as calm as he wanted her to believe.

“Last term,” he said. “You don’t dismantle the chain.”

Her head snapped up. “What?”

“Until the lock is closed, you don’t touch the bond with your gift.”

“You knew I could dismantle it.”

“I guessed.”

“You knew.”

“I saw what you did to the seal in the alley.”

“And you still dragged me into this.”

“I dragged you out of a firing line.”

“You stole the city’s living seal.”

“I stole it from people using it to open something.”

“You keep saying that. You haven’t shown me what’s behind the lock.”

“Sign first.”

“Coward.”

“Alive coward.”

The first guard stepped onto the platform.

Mara pressed her bleeding thumb against the final rune. “I agree to the term.”

Calder’s gaze dropped to her mouth again. His grip shifted, careful and warm around her fingers.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Do I look like I have time to change my mind?”

“You always look like you’re about to change your mind.”

“Sign.”

He placed his thumb over hers.

The contact lasted one heartbeat. Two.

His skin was rough from work and warm from the run.