Chapter 23 · The Bride Ledger

Callum hit the floor hard enough to crack one of the black tiles.

Evelyn barely looked at him.

The thing inside him was still smiling with Callum's mouth, blood running from one nostril, one eye gone cloudy silver. It had told her her mother used Evelyn's blood. Told her the old pact was waiting for her all these years.

Then Nolan caught her wrist.

"Don't," he said.

His fingers were cold. Too cold. Black fire crawled beneath the skin of his hand, thin as ink under glass.

Evelyn yanked once. He didn't let go.

"You heard it," she snapped. "My mother tied me to your family's contract. I need answers."

"And Callum isn't going to give them to you."

On the floor, Callum laughed. It came out wet.

"Smart boy," the thing said. "A little late, but smart."

Nolan turned his head toward him. "Get out of him."

"No."

The thing lifted Callum's hand and pointed at the wall behind the ruined desk. The library had looked expensive five minutes ago.