Chapter 15 · The Sister's Price Tag

"Get your hands off her!"

I slammed into the enforcer's arm, but his gauntlet didn't budge. It stayed locked tight around Kaela's throat.

"She paid!" I snarled, lunging again. "The Ledger took the years. We're done. Let her go!"

The enforcer didn't even blink. His black visor tilted down, cold and mechanical. "No one pays with life without a blood-lock, boy. You think the Ledger takes years like copper coins? It takes blood."

Kaela made a choked, wet sound. Her knees hit the floor with a thud. That gold brand on the side of her neck flared—burning brighter, ticking down.

71:59:42.

Her breath came in short, jagged gasps.

"Kaela? Hey, look at me." I dropped to my knees beside her, hands hovering. I wanted to grab her, but the light coming off that mark looked like it would sear my skin. "Breathe. Just breathe for me."

"Don't," she gasped, her fingers snapping around my wrist. Her skin was ice. "Don't touch it. It burns... God, it burns."

"You did this," the enforcer said. His voice was a flat drone. "You let her sign. Blood-lock wants life. You break it, you bleed. That's the price."

"I didn't let her do anything!"